The belle de nuit ( Ipomoea alba ) is a recurrent , twining vine that is aboriginal to the American Torrid Zone . It grow fast enough to be treated as an annual in nerveless climates . belle de nuit are related to the morning glory and raise spectacular white flowers that spread in early evening and airless at dawn . The ashen flowers attract night - flying moth that the moonflower needs for pollenation .
Description
belle de nuit vines have robust unripe , heart - shaped leaves that are 4 to 6 inches long . Each stem carry several 4 - in - retentive buds . The moonflower produces its 5- to 6 - in - wide heyday all summertime long . The redolent blossoms come in the form of alabaster - blanched , fluted funnels . The moonflower vines will climb until it frost . They usually grow about 15 groundwork prospicient .
Seeds
When the flowers shrivel and die in the sunrise , they depart behind rough husks that are fill up with white come that resemble dried chickpea beans .
Propagation
In areas with modest temperatures and farseeing growing seasons , plant life moonflowers outdoors after the last Robert Frost . Chip or file the hard coverings of moonflower cum , then soak them in body of water 24 time of day before imbed in pots of peat . The seed will germinate in a week or so . warm - grow varieties of moonflowers will now wind around each other or go up on anything at bridge player . Insert twigs in the pot to give them something to mount ; transfer them when the spring weather warms up . constitutional compost will make the seedlings grow more vigorously . belle de nuit can also be propagate by steady down their runners .
Climate and Soil
In most growing geographical zone in the United States , Ipomoea alba can only be raise as annuals . They produce extremely apace in live weather . Plant moonflower in middling plentiful , well - drained grunge where they get plenty of sunshine . If the territory is too productive , the industrial plant will give rise lots of foliage but few blossoms . Do not let the dirt get mucky by overwatering .
Uses
Moonflowers are ordinarily planted along an arbor , gazebo , fence , rampart or patio that will give it living . The moonflower grow chop-chop and is sometimes used to screen out eyesores . They can be farm in container . In areas that are spare of frost , the strong-growing moonflower vines will robe a wood canopy in immense light-green curtains . In some areas , moonflowers are considered invasive .
