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Native Plant Society of Texas

Beach Morning Glory

Ipomoea imperati

Other common name(s):

Beach Morning-glory

Family:

Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Vine

Height

1
to
2
ft.

Spread

4
to
30
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Moist, Saline, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Sand Dunes & Beaches

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Flowers, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds, Moths, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Drought and salt tolerant. Excellent groundcover and good for sand stabilization. WARNING: toxic to dogs, cats, horses. Native habitat: coastal dunes.

Description

Blooms August-September. Forms smooth trailing stems with small, elliptical, fleshy, dark green leaves notched at the apex. Forms roots at the nodes. Showy, funnel-shaped flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. The fruit is a capsule.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Ipomoea stolonifera

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Take stem cuttings without the application of root hormones. Single- or multiple-node stem cuttings can be taken along any portion of the stem. Place at least one node into the rooting substrate and place under intermittent mist with natural photoperiod until roots form. Cuttings root within 7 to 10 days and should be removed from mist at the first sign of rooting, or they will quickly deteriorate. Hand water until plants form sufficient roots to hold the propagation substrate when removed from the propagation cell. Plants grow quickly once transferred to containers with a well-draining substrate in either greenhouse or nursery conditions. 1) https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SG173 2) https://plantiary.com/plant/ipomoea-imperati_3301.html#:~:text=To%20propagate%20through%20seeds%2C%20the,fertilizer%20to%20ensure%20optimal%20growth.
Seed Scarification Germination for beach morningglory requires scarification because seeds are physically dormant (Martínez et al. 1992). Seeds germinate with both constant (90% at 35°C) and fluctuating day/night temperatures (60 to 85% at 40/20°C) in dark or light. Seeds retain germinability when buried up to 0.75 in and inundated with 25% seawater. Regardless of the method of propagation, it is important to keep the plants away from extreme conditions such as cold drafts or too much direct sunlight. Once established, the plants should be watered regularly and fed with a balanced fertilizer to ensure optimal growth. 1) https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/SG173 2) https://plantiary.com/plant/ipomoea-imperati_3301.html#:~:text=To%20propagate%20through%20seeds%2C%20the,fertilizer%20to%20ensure%20optimal%20growth.
Bud Division Sections should then be replanted into well-draining soil mix and watered frequently. Regardless of the method of propagation, it is important to keep the plants away from extreme conditions such as cold drafts or too much direct sunlight. Once established, the plants should be watered regularly and fed with a balanced fertilizer to ensure optimal growth. Separate the parent plant by carefully digging it up and dividing the root system into multiple sections. Each section should have enough roots and healthy shoots or leaves. https://plantiary.com/plant/ipomoea-imperati_3301.html#:~:text=To%20propagate%20through%20seeds%2C%20the,fertilizer%20to%20ensure%20optimal%20growth.

About the Region

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This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason