Steudel’s Morning-Glory: A Caribbean Native Worth Knowing
If you’re gardening in the Caribbean or looking to add some tropical flair to your landscape, you might want to get acquainted with Steudel’s morning-glory (Ipomoea steudelii). This lesser-known member of the morning glory family brings native charm to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, though it remains something of a mystery in the gardening world.
What Makes This Morning Glory Special?
Steudel’s morning-glory is a perennial forb – basically a soft-stemmed plant that comes back year after year without developing woody tissue like shrubs or trees. As part of the Ipomoea family, it shares DNA with some of the most beloved climbing flowers in tropical and subtropical gardens, though this particular species keeps a much lower profile in cultivation circles.
Where You’ll Find It Growing Wild
This morning glory calls the Caribbean home, specifically Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It’s perfectly adapted to island life, having evolved in these tropical conditions over countless generations. If you live in these areas, you’re looking at a truly local native plant that supports the natural ecosystem you’re part of.
Should You Grow Steudel’s Morning-Glory?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky – and honestly refreshing in our age of over-information. Steudel’s morning-glory is one of those plants that hasn’t been extensively studied or commercialized, which means growing information is scarce. However, if you’re in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are compelling reasons to consider it:
- It’s a true native, supporting local ecosystems
- As a perennial, it provides long-term garden value
- Morning glories generally attract pollinators
- Native plants are typically well-adapted to local conditions
The Growing Challenge
Unfortunately, detailed cultivation information for Steudel’s morning-glory is limited. Most gardening resources focus on more common morning glory species, leaving this native somewhat in the shadows. If you’re determined to grow it, your best bet might be:
- Contacting local botanical gardens or native plant societies
- Looking for seeds or plants from native plant specialists
- Observing where it grows naturally in your area
- Starting with general morning glory growing principles and adapting as needed
A Word About Responsible Gardening
Since detailed information about this species is limited, we don’t know its current conservation status or specific ecological requirements. If you do find Steudel’s morning-glory available, make sure you’re sourcing it responsibly from reputable native plant growers rather than wild collection.
The Bottom Line
Steudel’s morning-glory represents something special in native gardening – a plant that reminds us there’s still much to discover and learn about our local flora. While it may not be the easiest plant to find or grow, it offers Caribbean gardeners a chance to connect with their truly local plant heritage.
If you can’t locate Steudel’s morning-glory, consider other native Caribbean Ipomoea species or native vines that are more readily available and better documented. Sometimes the journey to find the perfect native plant teaches us just as much as growing it does.
