Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is a tender perennial vine native to tropical America, grown as a warm-season annual in most of North America. Hardy in zones 10-12, this vigorous climber produces intensely fragrant, pure white blooms that open at dusk and glow ethereally in moonlight, earning its poetic common name. Starting from seed 112 days before your desired bloom time, moonflower reaches 6-20 feet tall in a single season and attracts nocturnal pollinators with its showy, sweetly scented flowers from June through November. This low-maintenance vine thrives in full sun with moderate water and requires only a sturdy support structure to reach its full potential.
1
Full Sun
Moderate
10-12
240in H x 24in W
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High
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The flowers open in late afternoon and close by morning, creating a nightly spectacle of fragrant white blooms that seem to float against the darkness. Unlike its day-blooming morning glory cousins, moonflower transforms your evening garden into a sensory experience, releasing its intoxicating perfume precisely when you're enjoying dinner outside or settling in for nighttime. Nocturnal pollinators including sphinx moths depend on these blooms, making your moonflower vine a magnet for creatures most gardeners never see. With minimal fussing required and reliable performance even in less-than-ideal conditions, this vine delivers maximum drama for minimal effort.
Moonflower serves primarily as an ornamental climbing vine, valued for transforming trellises, arbors, pergolas, and fence lines with dense green foliage and nightly floral displays. It functions as a living privacy screen and evening garden focal point, particularly treasured by gardeners who spend time outdoors after sunset or those seeking to attract night-blooming pollinators like sphinx moths to their landscape.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors about 8 weeks before your last spring frost date in 4-inch pots. Before sowing, soak seeds in warm water for several hours and notch the seed coat with a knife to promote germination. Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, keep soil temperature between 65-80°F, and cover with a humidity dome to retain moisture until sprouts emerge in 5-14 days. Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart, positioning each vine near its support structure. Bury the seedling at the same depth it grew in its pot.
Direct sow outdoors after all danger of frost has passed in zones 8-10. Soak seeds in warm water for several hours before planting, notch the seed coat, and plant 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. Direct sowing will delay flowering significantly compared to indoor starting.
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“Moonflower originates from tropical America, where it thrived in warm climates as a perennial. As seed catalogs and gardeners across North America discovered its evening-blooming magic, it evolved into a cherished warm-season annual, treasured by gardeners who wanted to extend their garden enjoyment into the twilight hours. The practice of starting seeds indoors with scarified seed coats to improve germination has been documented in American seed-saving traditions for generations, making moonflower a bridge between old-world heirloom gardening knowledge and modern seasonal gardening.”