How do I get Moonflower to climb pergola post?

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mist001 Lincoln, RI Jul 22, 2007

I was able to plant moonflower in my Northern garden (zone 6) I would like it to climb up a pergola that is next to the plant. It has 3 stems growing off it and seems to be growing toward the sun, away from the post. It is quite large now, with many flowers on it. Should I cut back the 2 stems that are growing away from the post? It seems to resist growing up the post. Will it kill the plant to cut it now? I am a beginner gardener, and I feel amazed to see it do so well, as everything I read said that it is difficult to grow from a transplant in my zone. Thanks for any advice mist001

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chris_lcf530 Peachtree City, GA(Zone 7b) Jul 22, 2007

If you are sure this is a moonflower, then you wont have a problem. The stems of a moonflower will get thicker and much, much longer. You will be able to move them anywhere you want, kinda like a round belt, they will not be stiff like some vines. I will take a picture of mine tomorrow. It amazes me how big they can get once they get going. Mine are grown from seed each year, started indoors in March.

chris

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mist001 Lincoln, RI Jul 22, 2007

Dear Ecf530, Thanks for responding so quickly. I will upload a photo soon, I need a new part for my camera. I just went into plant identification and found my "moonflowers". They are datura/jimsonweed. " Definitely a datura/jimsonweed/devil's trumpet. They are lovely flowers, but lots of people think they are weeds because they self seed so freely and can be invasive. The foliage also irritates some people's skin and can be harmful to pets or small children. The seeds are very hallucinogenic, so if the hippie kids in the neighborhood know anything about horticulture they will be hanging around your yard in the fall." I wondered because they don't have a heavenly smell like everyone talks about. I'm kind of disappointed, especially since I got them from a local garden shop. Thanks, Mist

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Jul 22, 2007

If it's a Datura then it won't climb so you won't be able to train it up anything. The moonflower that you hear about people training up trellises, etc is Ipomoea alba http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/893/

Your Datura should be fragrant--try smelling it in the evening rather than the daytime, I think that's when their fragrance is most noticeable.

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chris_lcf530 Peachtree City, GA(Zone 7b) Jul 22, 2007

ecrane link is the moonflower that I have. You might want to add some other vine to your trellis so it can climb. Crossvine is a great vine also.

chris

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