Ipomoea quamoclit L.

Cypress Vine; Star Glory; Hummingbird Vine

Vine

Annual

Vascular

Cypress Vine is an introduced annual member of the Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Cypress Vine grows on the sides of roads and railroads, in fields, on sandbars, and on other disturbed sites. It is native to tropical America, but has been widely planted and has escaped worldwide. Cypress Vine is twining herbaceous annual from a tap root. The stem is green in color, glabrous, and can reach six to ten feet in length. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, glabrous, and pinnately divided. The leaf segments are linear. Bright red star-shaped flowers are produced throughout the summer from the axils of the leaves. The flowers are 1-3 on peduncles that are longer than the leaves. Unlike many members of the Morning Glory family the flowers of Cypress Vine remain open all day. The fruit is a globose capsule with 3-5 black seed. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Cypress Vine seed are readily available from many sources. In addition to the red flowered form, varieties with pink or white flowers are also available. They should be planted directly in the ground after danger of frost has passed. Cypress Vine grows best in full sun, and will need support on which to climb. Cypress Vine produces abundant seed, so look for volunteer seedlings to pop up around the garden.—A. Diamond

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Not Native FACU+ (NWPL)

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