Ipomoea Pes-Caprae, Railroad Vine or Railway Creeper

Spread: 30-40m Origin: Florida

Family: Convolvulaceae Common Name: Beach Morning Glory, Railroad Vine, Bayhops, Goat’s Foot Creeper

Flower Colour: Purple Drought Tolerance: Medium

Salinity Tolerance: Medium Sun Tolerance: High

Wind Tolerance: High PH Level: Basic

Pest Tolerance: High Disease Tolerance: High

Growth Rate: Fast Fragrance: No

Ipomoea Pes-Caprae, commonly known as Railroad Vine or Railway Creeper, is a fast-growing vine that is ideal for softening hard edges, such as walls and fences. Once established, it grows quickly, reaching up to 20 ft of length, making it a great choice for enhancing privacy and adding texture to your outdoor living space.

It can cover 100 ft (30.5 m) as it races along the beach, but it never gets more than a few inches high. This is an evergreen perennial with a large, thick root that can be 10 ft (3.1 m) long and 2 in (5.1 cm) in diameter. The stem is flexible, 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in diameter, branches freely and roots at the nodes. The fleshy leathery leaves are about 4 in (10.2 cm) long and carried on petioles 6 in (15.2 m) long. The leaves are notched at the apex, creating two equal lobes which must have looked like the imprint of a goat’s foot to Professor Linnaeus who named the plant. The flowers are very showy, pink to lavender purple funnels about 2 in (5.1 m) long. Each flower opens only once, in the morning, but they keep coming almost all year long, peaking from May through November.