Photo by: Paul Rebman

Nomenclature

Common Name:

railroadvine, lavender goatfoot morning-glory

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis

Family:

Convolvulaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

vine

Size:

Stems are 60+ ft long  (stems are long but prostrate).  Foliage hugs the ground.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink,purple

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms summer (north) or all year (south).

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Makes a nice groundcover in an informal dry yard. In nature, it is an important stabilizer of beach dunes.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Circum-neutral to calcarious

Suitable to Grow In:

8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Attracts insects, especially bees.

Native Habitats:

Beach dunes.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Has been used (in South America) to treat inflammation and gastrointestinal problems.

General Comments:

Seeds float and can be dispersed by water. Noted as a sand stabilizer being one of the first plants to colonize active dunes. Pan-tropical.