North America Non-native Plant

Evolvulus Tenuis

Botanical name: Evolvulus tenuis

USDA symbol: EVTE2

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Evolvulus tenuis: A Mysterious Member of the Morning Glory Family If you’ve stumbled across the name Evolvulus tenuis while researching plants for your garden, you might be feeling a bit puzzled – and you’re not alone! This particular species is something of an enigma in the gardening world, with very ...

Evolvulus tenuis: A Mysterious Member of the Morning Glory Family

If you’ve stumbled across the name Evolvulus tenuis while researching plants for your garden, you might be feeling a bit puzzled – and you’re not alone! This particular species is something of an enigma in the gardening world, with very little reliable information available about its characteristics, growing requirements, or even its current taxonomic status.

What We Know (And Don’t Know) About Evolvulus tenuis

Evolvulus tenuis belongs to the genus Evolvulus, which is part of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). While the genus itself contains several charming small flowering plants, information specifically about E. tenuis is remarkably scarce in botanical databases and gardening resources. This could mean a few things:

  • It might be an extremely rare or localized species
  • The name may not be currently recognized in standard botanical classification
  • It could be a synonym for another Evolvulus species
  • Research and documentation about this particular plant is simply limited

The Challenge of Unknown Plant Details

Unfortunately, we don’t have reliable information about this plant’s:

  • Common names or regional nicknames
  • Native geographic distribution
  • Growing requirements and hardiness zones
  • Aesthetic characteristics
  • Wildlife or pollinator benefits
  • Invasive or conservation status

A Safer Alternative: Explore Well-Documented Evolvulus Species

Rather than taking a gamble on a plant with unknown characteristics and requirements, consider exploring other members of the Evolvulus genus that are well-documented and readily available:

  • Evolvulus glomeratus (Blue Daze) – A popular groundcover with small blue flowers
  • Evolvulus nuttallianus (Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory) – Native to parts of North America
  • Evolvulus alsinoides – A creeping herb with small white or blue flowers

What Should You Do?

If you’re specifically interested in Evolvulus tenuis for a particular reason, we’d recommend:

  • Consulting with local botanical experts or native plant societies
  • Checking with university extension services in your area
  • Verifying the plant’s current taxonomic status through professional botanical resources
  • Considering whether you might be looking for a different Evolvulus species instead

Without knowing the plant’s native status, growing requirements, or potential invasiveness, it would be unwise to recommend planting something so mysterious. Instead, focus on well-documented native plants or thoroughly researched non-invasive species that will give you predictable, beautiful results in your garden.

The Bottom Line

Sometimes in the plant world, mystery doesn’t equal magic – it just means we need more information before making good gardening decisions. Stick with plants that have clear growing guides, known benefits, and documented histories to ensure your gardening success and environmental responsibility.

Evolvulus Tenuis

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Asteridae

Order

Solanales

Family

Convolvulaceae Juss. - Morning-glory family

Genus

Evolvulus L. - dwarf morning-glory

Species

Evolvulus tenuis Mart. ex Choisy [excluded]

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA