beach morning-glory

Ipomoea imperati

The beach morning-glory is a beautiful flower that grows near sandy beaches. Its bright, colorful blooms open in the morning and close in the afternoon, making it a lovely sight for beachgoers.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The beach morning-glory has large, funnel-shaped flowers, typically white or pale pink with a yellow throat, that open in the morning. Its thick, fleshy, kidney-shaped leaves are glossy green and grow on long, sprawling stems.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSolanalesFamilyConvolvulaceaeGenusIpomoea

Photo: Forest & Kim StarrCC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

beach morning-glory

Interesting facts

Its beautiful flowers usually only stay open for one morning before closing forever.

Some call it 'railroad vine' because it grows super fast along the ground!

The seeds can stay alive for many years, just waiting for the right moment to sprout!

You can find this tough plant on warm beaches all around the world!

Special abilities

Beach morning-glory can grow deep roots that help it hold onto loose sand, preventing beaches from washing away.

This plant has special leaves that can handle salty ocean spray, allowing it to thrive where other plants cannot.

Beach morning-glory has thick, fleshy leaves that store precious water, helping it survive dry, sandy conditions.

Its lightweight seeds can float on ocean currents for weeks, allowing it to colonize new distant beaches.

Measurements & details

Height: 5-30 cm
Spread: 50-500 cm
Flower Size: 4-8 cm
Bloom Season: Warm months to year-round
Edible: No
Toxicity: None
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen.

Pollinates

Monarch butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Feeds on flower nectar, aiding in pollination.

Eaten by

Seaside grasshopper

Trimerotropis maritima

Feeds on the leaves and stems in sandy habitats.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Salt Tolerant

Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.

Drought Tolerant

Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Rapid Growing

Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

Coastal

Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths and don't pick flowers without permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify beach morning-glory?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is beach morning-glory?

5-30 cm

How wide does beach morning-glory spread?

50-500 cm

How big are the flowers on beach morning-glory?

4-8 cm

When does beach morning-glory bloom?

Warm months to year-round

Is beach morning-glory edible?

Is beach morning-glory toxic?

None

What is beach morning-glory's lifecycle?