Moonflower Information

A relative of the morning glory (family Convolvulaceae), the moonflower has gathered renown for its beautiful blooms that open in the evening. Also called moonflower vine or moon vine, these attractive flowers grow on a vine. This plant creates a show when winding up a trellis or climbing over an arbor, which makes it an eye-catching addition to any warm landscape.
Plant Description
Much like the morning glory, the moonflower (Ipomoea alba) grows as a twining vine. Moonflower leaves also resemble the morning glory, as they are green and heart-shaped. They reach 4 to 8 inches long. Flower stems grow on the vine adjacent to the leaves. The moonflower vine can stretch over 15 feet long. However, unlike the morning glory, the moonflower does not fall under the category of invasive weed.

Flower Description
As the vine grows, it produces a number of white flowers that span up to 6 inches across. The spiral buds that appear clustered together on each stem measure 4 inches long. Moonflower also emits a pleasant fragrance. Seedpods replace the flowers once they die. Harvest the pods when they turn black; inside lie large, white seeds that look like garbanzo beans.

Bloom
The flowers of this plant give it the name "Evening flower" as its buds open in the late afternoon and last only until morning. According to the University of Indiana, moonflower petals die after they open. This flower produces blooms from early summer until early fall. Moths pollinate these night-blooming flowers.

Growing Conditions
This vine prefers full sunlight to grow and moist soil. A native subtropical plant, it thrives in very hot weather. On the USDA hardiness zones map, the moonflower grows best in zones 9 to 11. It works better to trellis this flower when growing it, unless you plant it for a groundcover. Unlike the morning glory, the moonflower is a non-aggressive and non-invasive plant. It grows both as a tender perennial in tropical climates and as an annual in cooler ones.

Pests and Diseases
Like other members of Ipomoea, moonflower does not attract many pests or diseases. Diseases do include leaf spots, stem rots and rusts. Remedy a plant afflicted with one of these fungal diseases by spraying fungicide.

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About Moonflower

For those seeking to make their gardens as dramatic in the evening as they are in the daylight, adding a moonflower plant will bring fragrant blossoms that bloom only at night. Scientifically known as Ipomoea alba, the moonflower is an important addition to the garden ecosystem and a pleasant way to change the look of a garden no matter what time of day.

Effects
The moonflower is a prime source of food for night-flying moths, and the plant likewise benefits from the pollination efforts of the insects. Like many other night-blooming plants, the moonflower blossoms are white to better attract moths and other insects. On warm nights, the moonflowers can open up within a minute or two from a completely closed state.

Identification
Moonflowers are a vine-style plant and can grow 14 to 18 feet per year. As tropical plants, they are considered perennial in warm growing zones but must be replanted as annuals in cooler zones, since the first hard frost will kill them. The leaves of the moonflower are a thick, glossy green and make an attractive daytime garden addition even when the flowers are tightly closed. The blooms are 3 to 4 inches wide and are bright white. The plant is a distant cousin to the morning glory.

Considerations
Moonflowers are prolific climbers and are generally grown from seeds. When you are ready to plant moonflower seeds, soak them in water for 8 hours. Plant seeds somewhere in full sun where the plant has access to climbers, such as a patio, trellis or fence. Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep in the spring after there is no danger of frost. After the seeds germinate, thin the plants to about 6 inches apart.

Misconceptions
A recent trend among thrill seekers and kids seeking to get high is to ingest "moonflower" seeds. While there are seeds that belong to the plant "datura inoxia" that are quite toxic and produce hallucinations in some people, they are not true moonflowers. However, some companies label these seeds under the general name of "moonflower" since the two plants share similar characteristics.

Geography
The moonflower is natively found in tropical lands, including central America, the Caribbean, South America and extreme parts of the southeastern U.S. It has also been transplanted to other tropical climates such as Australia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. However, its fast-growing and aggressive nature have caused many communities to label it as a weed because it overtakes and smothers existing native plants.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/about_4674095_moonflower.html