Ipomoea × multifida
Cardinal climber
Description
Source: leafsnapIpomea × multifida is a hybridogenic species. Its ancestors are I. coccinea and I. quamoclit (the cypress vine). Its allotetraploid is Ipomoea sloteri. Both are known as cardinal climber.
Care Guide
💧 Water Every 3-5 days
Water your vine every week until at least an inch deep, either through rainfall or irrigation. It will tolerate dry soil occasionally but generally does better in consistently moist soil.
☀️ Light
🌡️ Temperature
Cardinal Climber grows best in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12. As a tropical plant, this climber needs hot, humid climates for the best growth. It may grow in cooler weather, though expect slower growth.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil
🌱 Fertilizer
You won’t need to feed your Cardinal Climber unless you have particularly nutrient-deficient soil.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
Cardinal Climber typically does not require pruning. If it becomes invasive due to self-seeding, trim off and dispose of any seed pods while they’re green. This climber also grows vigorously and will need support on a sturdy structure as it continues to climb.
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
The seeds of this plant are extremely toxic if ingested, both to pets and humans. Symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting, as well as muscle tightness and numbness of the arms and legs. Like morning glories, cardinal climber seeds contain LSA (lysergic acid amide), an alkaloid structurally similar to LSD. Ingesting the seeds may cause hallucinations. Make sure to keep pets and children away from this plant, and take care to store seeds securely if you are saving them for propagation.
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Annual flowering vine
- Genus
- Ipomoea
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
- Bloom Time
- Midsummer until frost