Ipomoea carnea, the pink morning glory, is a fast-growing scrambling shrub or small tree from Mexico to tropical South America, grown for its pink funnel flowers and easy growth from seed. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and is best kept away from livestock and pets because of its toxic seeds and leaves.
Family
Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family)
Grows as
Shrub
Light
Full sun
Water
Water regularly while establishing, then allow the top of the soil to dry between waterings.
Soil
Well-drained garden soil or loam; tolerates poor soil.
Temperature
18–32 °C; protect below 10 °C
How easy
Easy
Safety
Toxic: Seeds and leaves are toxic, causing endocrine, gastrointestinal and immune effects when ingested.. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
Mexico to S. Trop. America
Climate
seasonally dry tropical
About
Ipomoea carnea, the pink morning glory, is a species of morning glory that grows as a bush. This flowering plant has heart-shaped leaves that are a rich green and 6–9 inches (15–23 cm) long. It can be easily grown from seeds. These seeds are toxic and it can be hazardous to cattle; the toxicity is related to the swainsonine produced by its endophytes, and to bioaccumulation of selenium in the leaves but mostly in the seeds. Ingestion of seeds or leaves causes abnormal endocrine functions and gastrointestinal functions, immune system alternation, abnormality in embryogenesis.
The stem of I. carnea can be used for making paper. The plant is also of medicinal value. It contains a component identical to marsilin, a sedative and anticonvulsant. A glycosidic saponin has also been purified from I. carnea with anticarcinogenic and oxytocic properties.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ipomoea carnea by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.