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GENERAL
Origin
:
tropical
Vigour
:
fast growing
Humidity
:
semi-humid, very
humid, extremely
humid
Propagation :
direct sowing,
sowing and
pricking out,
cuttings
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
medium
Salinity/ppm :
high (5000 ppm)
Hardiness
:
0°C
SHAPE
Type
:
climbers
Height
:
0.2 m-5 m
Spread
:
3 m-5 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
deep pink, deep
purple, white
Size
:
5 cm - 9 cm
Period
:
June - September
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
capsule
Fruit size
:
1 cm
The Cairo Morning Glory grows creeping as a groundcover, trailing over edges or twining as a
vine up to 5 metres high. This fast grower originates from tropical Africa and Asia, where it is
sometimes called Mile a Minute Vine. Its stems are glabrous and tend to root when they touch
soil. The evergreen, alternate leaves are pinnately lobed, round in shape and some 7 cm long. They
form dense blankets spotted with many funnel-shaped flowers up to 9 cm across in purple, pink
or white during summer. The fruit is a brown capsule 1 cm across with hairy seeds separated in
valves. These are used for the most common way to propagate this plant and may also self-seed to
naturalise on disturbed ground, preferably a moist site. Full to partial sun suits it best; however,
it thrives in shade but refuses to bloom properly. Fertile ground and occasional fertilising is wel-
come. If the soil drains well, the Cairo Morning Glory grows rapidly with frequent irrigation and
does not object to sprinklers. It grows tubers, from which it readily recovers if frost has killed
the leaves and twigs. These tubers may be eaten cooked or roasted, but are not as tasty as those
of its relative Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas). The twigs were formerly used to make ropes. It
withstands hard pruning best in early spring, but does not demand much attention if there are
no slow-growing plants nearby that might be overgrown. It is often seen in Arriyadh growing
rampant over walls and fences.
164
Ipomoea cairica,
Convolvulaceae
Cairo Morning Glory,
Mile-a-Minute Vine