Morning Glories: Moonflower Vine Question, 0 by QueenB

QueenB wrote:
Okay, now that Taylor and another person has drawn my attention to this thread, I guess I'll pipe in now. Funny that my ears weren't burning the whole time! LOL I must've been under my rock...

Firstly, the Blue Moonflower isn't Ipomoea indica...it's described in the article as being "not as well adapted", which indicates that it's not as hardy as the white variety, which it's clearly compared to. The article also gives the name Ipomoea bona-nox in parenthesis, which is another obsolete botanical for Ipomoea alba (Calonyction aculeatum being the other). Thus, the author is talking specifically about Ipomoea alba. It's also a known fact that some varieties of a specific plant don't do as well as the principal one, so I don't find it surprising that it may not do as well. Most likely, it's a weaker mutation of the white.

Also, anyone who has grown Ipomoea indica knows this is one morning glory that is tough as nails! Here's a website that is a key to some of the more common Central and South American Ipomea species: http://www.cs.umb.edu/~whaber/Monte/Plant/Conv/Ipom-plat.htm... I truly doubt that Capt. Cooke found Ipomoea alba on his voyage since it's native range is exclusive to the Americas.

Secondly, if you've happened to view my page, I do have an actual photo of a blue moonflower. I found the photo when I Googled "moonflower", and if you compare it to a white one, it's the exact same flower. I got the photo from the National Parks Service's website, and they list the name as Ipomoea alba. http://www.nps.gov/bicy/fire.htm I hardly think they'd fudge a photo. :-)

Thirdly, I've had a few other contacts, mostly in the southeastern states (Georgia, South Carolina, etc.) that have reportedly grown it, but found it not to be as hardy as the white, so seeds are rare and hard to come by. I did have a trader once send me five seeds of what was supposedly the blue, but between me and Taylor, we flubbed it big-time, so never found out if it was the real deal. :-((

Again, these are NOT the same as Ipomoea muricata or Ipomoea macrorhiza that I have posted here. These are clearly not blue at all. I have seen references to 'pink' and 'lavender pink', but I haven't found any solid literature or photos to back up the claim. I'm thinking they may be referring to these two species OR--maybe their blue ones look that color to them. One person's blue is another person's purple or pink...here's some websites that make mention of it, but note they aren't consistent with descriptions (or lack them).

http://www.msue.msu.edu/imp/modzz/00000774.html
http://www.dulley.com/plant/a062.shtml (I think the description of pink here is a different species)
http://blackkatherbs.com/namerican.htm# (just a mention, no description...this could be anything)
http://www.blitzworld.com/garden/moon flower grow.htm
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass/horticulture/annuals/li...

Just my 2 1/2 ¢ worth...

QB