Ipomoea indica

RHS Plant Profile

blue dawn flower

RHS 2001

Synonyms

Ipomoea learii alba
Pharbitis learii
Ipomoea learii
Ipomoea acuminata

Climber Wall Shrub Conservatory Greenhouse

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A vigorous twining evergreen perennial to 6m or more, with heart-shaped or 3-lobed leaves and wide-funnel-shaped blue or purple-blue flowers to 8cm across, opening over a long period from late spring to autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Convolvulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Climbing
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Ipomoea can be annuals or perennials, often twining, or evergreen shrubs, with simple, lobed or dissected leaves and tubular or funnel-shaped flowers which may be solitary or borne in racemes or panicles
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Pantropical

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost, in full light with shade from hot sun. Water freely when in growth and apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every two or three weeks. Water sparingly in winter. If grown in a container it can be put outside in summer

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Climber and wall shrubs

Pruning

Pruning group 11 in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshoouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to fusarium wilt, powdery mildews and virus diseases