Tropical White Morning-glory (Ipomoea alba)
Formerly Calonyction bona-nox, Calonyction aculeatum, Convolvulus aculeatus
Moonflower is a fast-growing, climbing vine that needs medium water and moist, well-drained soil. No source documents its light needs for growing it indoors. It is toxic to both cats and dogs. Its white flowers bloom from June through October. Mature plants reach about 5 to 10 ft (1.52-3.05 m) tall and 3 to 6 ft (0.91-1.83 m) wide.
Quick facts
| Water: | Medium11 source |
|---|---|
| Soil: | Well drained and moist21 |
| Size: | 5–10 ft (1.52–3.05 m) × 3–6 ft (0.91–1.83 m)121 source |
| Growth rate: | Rapid21 source |
| Bloom: | Jun–Oct, White71 source |
| Cats: | Toxic to cats 562 |
| Dogs: | Toxic to dogs 52 |
| Native range: | AGE, AGW, BAH, BLZ, BOL, BZC, BZE, BZL, BZN, BZS, CLM, COS, CPI, CUB, DOM, ECU, ELS, FRG, GAL, GUA, GUY, HAI, HON, JAM, LEE, MXC, MXE, MXG, MXN, MXS, MXT, NIC, PAN, PAR, PER, PUE, SUR, TRT, URU, VEN, WIN8 |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
How often to water a Tropical White Morning-glory
This vine needs a medium amount of water, not a lot and not a little, to keep the soil evenly moist. The soil also needs good drainage, since moonflower grows best in ground that stays moist without turning soggy. Well-drained soil combined with medium watering matches this plant's documented water needs. The vine also reaches about 5 to 10 ft (1.52-3.05 m) tall and spreads 3 to 6 ft (0.91-1.83 m) wide. This vine is hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 10a through 12b.
- Water: Medium1
Best soil for a Tropical White Morning-glory
Moonflower grows best in soil that drains well and stays moist, not waterlogged. A mix that lets extra water pass through while holding some moisture suits this vine's roots. No cited source records a preferred soil pH for this plant. Pair good drainage with the plant's medium water needs when you choose a site or container. This matches the medium level of water the plant needs overall. Outdoors, it is hardy in USDA zones 10a through 12b.
How to propagate a Tropical White Morning-glory
Moonflower is grown from seed. Soak the seeds overnight, or nick the seed coat, before you sow them. Start seeds indoors in mid-April, then move seedlings outside about a month later into a bright, sunny spot. Outdoors, give the vine full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct light a day. This rapid-growing vine is usually treated as an annual, started fresh from seed each year. The plant's white flowers bloom from June through October.
Common problems
No significant pests are reported for moonflower. No significant diseases are reported for it either. This vine grows at a rapid pace and keeps its broadleaf evergreen leaves. It is hardy outdoors year-round in USDA zones 10a through 12b. It is also described as a tender, low-maintenance, perennial vine often grown as an annual. It is native to the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico, and introduced in Hawaii.
Is Tropical White Morning-glory toxic to cats and dogs?
The ASPCA lists moonflower as toxic to both cats and dogs. Eating the foliage or flowers can bring on gastrointestinal distress in either cats or dogs, according to Pet Poison Helpline. In dogs, reported signs include vomiting, and eating a large amount of seeds may even cause hallucinations. Both the ASPCA and the Pet Poison Helpline treat moonflower as a toxic plant for pets. Moonflower's flowers are white and bloom from June through October. In the wild, it grows natively across the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico, and has become introduced in Hawaii.
Pet-safe alternatives
Recommended supplies
- Soil: a free-draining mix, and a pot with a drainage hole.
Questions and answers
- How big does moonflower get?
- Moonflower grows into a vine about 5 to 10 ft (1.52-3.05 m) tall and 3 to 6 ft (0.91-1.83 m) wide. It has a rapid growth rate. It also climbs by twining as it spreads. It is a tender, low-maintenance, perennial vine grown as an annual.
- When does moonflower bloom, and where is it native?
- Moonflower's white flowers bloom from June through October. In the United States, it is native to the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico. It has also become introduced in Hawaii. Outdoors, it survives year-round only in USDA zones 10a through 12b.
- Is moonflower toxic to cats and dogs?
- Yes, the ASPCA lists moonflower as toxic to both cats and dogs. Eating the foliage or flowers can cause gastrointestinal distress in either pet, and dogs that eat a large amount of seeds may also show hallucinations. No significant pests or diseases are reported for this vine.
Sources
- University of Illinois Extension. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=526&PlantTypeID=5. Accessed 15 October 2026.
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-alba/. Accessed 15 October 2026.
- University of Illinois Extension. https://extension.illinois.edu/flowers/moonflower. Accessed 28 October 2026.
- Chicago Botanic Garden. https://www.chicagobotanic.org/plant-information/smart-gardener/moon-gardens. Accessed 28 October 2026.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/morning-glory. Accessed 15 October 2026.
- Pet Poison Helpline. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/morning-glory/. Accessed 15 October 2026.
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ipal. Accessed 21 October 2026.
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (World Checklist of Vascular Plants). https://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/wcvp.zip. Accessed 4 June 2026.
How this page was made
- Written with AI assistance from the sources listed on this page. AI is never the source of a fact.