|Ipomoea horsfalliae 'Briggsii' blossom detail|
Blown in on the trade winds, off the shores of Jamaica, comes an arresting vision with a crimson Caribbean punch! Ipomoea horsfalliae 'Briggsii' otherwise known as the Lipstick Vine. This beauty caught my eye as I was perusing the goods at the Huntington Botanical Gardens Fall Plant Sale in San Marino today. Now, I'm a little cautious of falling in love with Ipomoea, most referred to as Morning Glory, because it can be a weedy, out-of-control bugger. But, Ipomoea horsfalliae 'Briggsii' seems to be worth the trouble. It really knows how to put on the charm.
|Ipomoea horsfalliae 'Briggsii' blossom + bud|
The blossoms are a knock-out. Their trumpets are kissin' with crimson color so vibrant, so rich and keep blooming from autumn through spring. Check out those flower buds...working some serious almost-black metallic magic on you.
|Ipomoea horsfalliae 'Briggsii' detail|
|Ipomoea horsfalliae 'Briggsii' detail|
Its palmate evergreen foliage has a lustrous sheen of rich green to it. Even as flowers fade, this vine maintains a dignified demeanor. Since this vine hails from the Caribbean you've got to give it some warm vibes. Try USDA zones 9-12. Keep it from the cold. Cold=bad.
It likes full sun/bright light, well-drained soil, regular water (keep it drier in winter), and would do gorgeously growing on a protected porch or even inside. Another cool thing to note is that if grows out of doors, the hummingbirds will come calling. So what do you think? I think it's one seductively stylish glam jammin' Morning Glory.