This fast raiser fills the evening atmosphere with sweet fragrance .
Moonflower vine(Ipomoea alba),with its declamatory , pure white bloom andheart - shaped leaves , is one of many gardeners’favorite vining works . This stunning vine offers 6 - inch - wide bloom that open at dusk and release a sweet fragrance all Nox long .
Moonflower vine earned its byname because the flowers unfold only at Nox . Because of this , use them to fulfill anocturnal recession in the gardenaccomplished by few other flowers . Much like their cousins , the more commonmorning gloriesthat flush during the day , moonflower vine is easy to grow in the proper localisation . Moonflower vine is usually spring up as an annual , but it is a perennial in the tropics .
Credit: kaew6566/Getty Images
It ’s worth point out that another plant that goes by the name belle de nuit is sometimes discombobulate with this vine ; Jimsonweed ( Datura)—like moonflower vine — has expectant white flowers that are often fragrant , but it does n’t grow as a vine , nor does it have spunk - mold leaves . All parts of the Jimsonweed plant are toxic to pets and the great unwashed , so habituate caution around it .
The seeds of the belle de nuit vine(Ipomoea alba)are toxic to humans , pets , and stock .
Where to Plant Moonflower Vine
Because the moonflower vine tend tobloom at night , you might wonder if you should set it when you ca n’t see the blossom open during the Clarence Day . The answer is simple : It is charming when you uprise it where you pass metre outdoors in the evening , perhaps on your front porch or back patio . There , you ’ll be capable to bask the huge ashen flowers that seem to glow in black light and the sweet scent these sweetheart bring about . Moonflower vine is native to the warm regions of the Americas and pull fascinating dark pollinator such as large , light-green luna moths andhummingbird - like hawk moth .
belle de nuit vines can also be grown in large ceramic pots to love on a patio . Rather than develop the mass of vines and leave when plant in the ground , being root - bound in a container seems to cause them to blossom earlier in the season . However , the potted vine do n’t seem to thrive like the in - ground I .
How and When to Plant Moonflower Vine
Although recurrent in areas withoutdeep freezes(USDA zone 9 - 11 ) during the wintertime , moonflower vine is usually treated as an yearly andreplanted each year .
Moonflower vine produce best in well - draining average soil . To begin moonflower vine from seeds , you ’ll need to nick the slurred seed coating with a single file first or leave behind them to soak for a few hours before engraft to help water get through . If you livein a tropical climatewhere the vines do n’t go bad in wintertime , you’re able to rationalize the stems back in the fall and allow them to regrow . This is an sluttish way to minimize their tendency to rise where they ’re not wanted and to keep them looking tidy .
Moonflower Care Tips
Light
Moonflower vinesgrow in effect in full sun . They will develop in partial Dominicus , but the volume of blooms is reduced .
Soil and Water
Moonflower vine prefers systematically moist territory and rapidly wilts in full sun without a steady supply of water . However , it pops right back up if watered quickly enough .
Temperature and Humidity
Wait until wellafter the last frost date of springto pose out seedlings or sow come . Any hint of cold conditions will kill them . Moonflower vine loves blistering , humid garden .
Fertilizer
A " bloom of youth booster"fertilizer that is high in phosphorusis important , in particular when moonflower vine is planted in pots . Avoid ahigh - N fertilizerbecause you ’ll end up with large unripened plants but few flower . Fertilize once a calendar month during the summer , following product recording label directions .
Pruning
No pruning is necessary , althoughdeadheading spent flowersencourages additional blooms . In warm climate , the plant can reseed itself , so if you do n’t want it to multiply , be certain to deadhead the vine .
Potting and Repotting Moonflower Vine
Moonflower vine is easy to grow in containers as long as it has something to climb . Add a trellisor seize string to a nearby support . The plant wo n’t grow quite as large as those planted in - earth , but it still makes an impressive display . In a container , it involve more water , and it is even less dusty - hardy than when planted in the garden , so it will most in all probability die in wintertime even in warm area . You wo n’t involve to repot it .
Pests and Problems
Aphidsmight annoy a Ipomoea alba vine , but they can be controlled with insecticidal soap orneem rock oil . Keep a spirit out for tomato or tobaccohornworms . If you see one , pull it off and throw it into buttery water .
How to Propagate Moonflower Vine
nurseryman can pass around moonflower vine withstem cuttingsor seeded player .
Stem Cuttings : After the weather warms and the vine shows vigorous ontogenesis , take 6- to 8 - inch clipping from healthy stalk tips . absent any leaf from the bottom half of the cutting and put it in a glass of water . you may stop there because plenty of gardeners have succeeder root moonflower vine in water . If you choose , satiate a small passel with sterile potting mixing and insert the cuttings . Firm the planting medium around the stem , maintain it moist until rootage form . The mystery to winner is a warm flatness placed under the stem container — whether water or grunge .
come : tuck a seed pod from the works when it turn brown . You ’ll only have a day or so before it splits open and spills its seminal fluid . After it is whole juiceless , split enter the pod and capture the seed . Keep them in a cool , ironical place until you are quick to sow in them . Four to six weeks before the last spring hoarfrost date , hit it up the seeded player overnight in warm water . Sow them in seminal fluid - starting mixing in small pots and cover them with a half inch of soil . water system the pot and set it in a well - lit domain that is 65 ° F or warmer . The seeds germinate in only a few Day . Transplant the seedlings outdoors after the atmospheric condition warms .
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Frequently Asked Questions
The belle de nuit vine ’s pollinators are Nox - flying gullible luna moth and hawk moths , so opening move when they are around makes sensory faculty .
Yes , moonflower vine produces only white flowers .
Moonflower bloom last only a undivided night , but the plant grow many blooms during its grow season .
Moonflower vines can originate 15 to 20 feet long . They are relatively slow - grow in the outpouring , but when the weather warms , the vine growth increase dramatically .
Datura stramonium . North Carolina State University Extension .
Ipomoea alba . NC State Extension
