Ipomoea pes-caprae
beach morning glory
Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesAttracts HummingbirdsDrought Tolerant
Native to North America
Overview
Ipomoea pes-caprae is a trailing perennial vine of the morning glory family, sending out prostrate, fleshy stems that root at the nodes and reach 30-100 feet (9-30 m) along open sand. The thick, leathery leaves are 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long and notched at the tip into two rounded lobes, giving the goat's-foot outline behind its common names. Pink to rose-purple funnel-shaped flowers, 1.5-2.5 inches (4-6 cm) across with a darker throat, open in the morning and fade by afternoon, appearing throughout the warm season. The fruit is a rounded capsule holding brown, hairy seeds that float in seawater and stay viable for months, spreading the plant between coastlines. Deep taproots and rooting nodes anchor shifting sand, making it a primary dune-stabilizing species across tropical shores. It tolerates salt spray, sandy infertile soil, intense sun, and drought, but is killed by frost and does not grow inland or in shade. Stems can spread quickly, overrunning small plantings in mild conditions.
Native Range
Native to tropical and subtropical coastlines worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. It grows on sandy beaches and foredunes, usually within reach of salt spray and just above the high-tide line.Suggested Uses
Used for dune stabilization, erosion control, and groundcover on sandy coastal sites and seaside gardens. It spreads as a sand-binding mat and is planted from cuttings spaced 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) apart.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread30' - 100'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to rose-purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
