# Moonflower (*Ipomoea violacea L.*)

The Moonflower is a magical flower that blooms only at night, releasing a sweet fragrance. Its petals glow softly in the moonlight, attracting moths and other nighttime creatures.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Gardens

![Moonflower](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/42296720/medium.jpeg)

Photo: 葉子, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/42296720)

## Appearance

The Moonflower has vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that unfurl in the morning, displaying shades of blue, purple, or pink, often with a white or yellow throat. Its leaves are heart-shaped and grow on slender, twining vines.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Solanales
- **Family:** Convolvulaceae
- **Genus:** Ipomoea

## Interesting facts

- Butterflies and bees love visiting its cheerful, trumpet-shaped blooms for nectar!
- Each vibrant flower blooms for just one morning, then gently wilts by afternoon!
- Its seeds were once used by ancient cultures for their powerful, mind-altering effects!
- Some varieties change flower color based on soil!

## Special abilities

- **Vining Climber:** Moonflower rapidly twines its slender stems around supports, helping it climb high to reach ample sunlight.
- **Color Beacon:** Its brightly colored petals act as a visual signal, drawing in buzzing insects and tiny birds for pollination.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-400 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 4-7 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from morning blooms.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Sips nectar, transferring pollen between flowers.
- **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Feeds on nectar from its trumpet-shaped flowers.
- **Eaten by:** Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar (*Manduca sexta*) — Its leaves are a food source for larvae.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Moonflowers are beautiful but should not be eaten. Always admire them from a safe distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Moonflower?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Moonflower?

200-400 cm

### How wide does Moonflower spread?

100-200 cm

### How big are the flowers on Moonflower?

4-7 cm

### When does Moonflower bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Moonflower edible?

No

### Is Moonflower toxic?

High

### What is Moonflower's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Shark River Slough Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shark-river-slough-archeological-district) — Florida, US · Historic District
- [Marie Selby Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marie-selby-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Moonflower: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moonflower)