PlantFiles: Cardinal Climber
Ipomoea sloteri

I found this vine to be a very fast grower. I purchased seeds from Target labeled 'Cypress Vine, Cardinal Climber.' The plant grows easily from seed. It has proven very temperature flexible and pest free, unlike my morning glories which are constantly troubled by caterpillars and aphids. Planted in January in Zone 9, this plant was the first to top my fence and also the first to bloom. I pruned off the minor shoot until it got to the top of the fence with its main vine and all of these cuttings rooted and became vigorous plants.

I bought a packet of Cypress Vine seeds, started them in peat pellets, and every single one germinated. By the time they started twining I could see that the leaves were different on some of the seedlings. I had both Cypress Vine and Cardinal Climber seeds, and they were identical. I went ahead and planted all of them in a huge ceramic pot with an obelisk, and sat back to see what would happen. I was rewarded with mountains of foliage and lovely little red flowers from both sets of vines. The pot was set so it received a.m. sun, then shade for a few hours, then late afternoon sun, and then shade again. I had a hard time getting the watering right; I did find out that it's a fine line for these little vines between too much and not enough moisture. It's hard to strike a good balance here in the summer in Arizona. The vines eventually died out, and I collected seeds, though I have no idea again which are which. This year I will be planting them in the ground for the first time, feeding acidic fertilizer, and monitoring the water, which will be easier with them in the ground. I expect a spectacular show on the fence line, and will be sure to take pictures to post here later.

I found no need to scarify the seed prior to planting, and sowed it directly into my garden at the base of the supports for my tomatoes. The effect is attractive and has significantly reduced the need to tie up the tomato vines.

If I had a nickel for every time this plant was mixed up
with Cypress Vine. Sigh.

Cypress Vine has a light and airy, almost fern-like foliage.
The seeds look, quite frankly, like mouse droppings.

Cardinal Climber has larger foliage on which the leaf structure
is significantly wider. The seeds resemble typical Morning
Glory seeds.

Thanks for letting me get that out. I feel better. :-)

If you find this plant too invasive -- I have a suggestion. It was recommended to me by a nursery as a container plant that would grow even in concrete planters. It did extremely well in the concrete planters, climbing up my lightposts, which looked very nice indeed! When it got unruly, I simply trimmed it back. It did not come back on its own this year, so I would have to replace it each year in this area (Kentucky). It grows very fast, so it works well as an annual that gives you quick color and interest. Recommended as a container plant. The leaves are pretty and fern like and the flowers a beautiful shade of red. It looked very nice growing up our black lamp posts.

Very beautiful deep red flowers on dark green. Attracts humminbirds. Moderate care (watering about once everyweek, normal soil). Flowers look like they're on fire in sunlight.

Clearly I have been confused about the difference between the Cypress Vine and the Cardinal Climber, until today. I have both plants here and the Cardinal Climber grows faster, longer and is much fuller that the Cypress. Both leaves appear to be lacy, but the Cardinal is less so.

So when I plant those seeds that I just threw into the same envelope, I will get a mix of both plants.

This interesting species was first created by successfully hybridizing Ipomoea coccinea and Ipomoea quamoclit,thus creating the new species of Ipomoea x multifida which when it had become fully stabilized after several generations was given the updated binomial of Ipomoea sloteri =an allotetraploid derived from Ipomoea x multifida..
The new species shows a flower most like the I.coccinea,sepals most like Ipomoea quamoclit,but with a new leaf shape with divided foliage like the I.quamoclit,but with the overall heart shape(!) of the Ipomoea coccinea.

In cold climates, it appears that this vine will grow slowly until about late August when it will explode into rapid growth and blooming. I suspect that it's triggered by a combination of warm soil and shortening days. It will grow like a thug until the first frost, which will kill it dead. No chance of reseeding here in Zone 4. I like to plant it near beds of flowers that tend to collapse by late summer so that the Cardinal Climber will cover it all in a lovely blanket that builds upon the structure of dead annuals poppies, or other plants past their prime. There are definitely two variations of this plant. We have grown it every year for about ten years and this year the seeds we bought produced a much finer, lacy leaf that is quite a bit prettier than the others we have grown. Both have the same red flowers.

Although this seems to be a great hummingbird plant, it is very invasive in Central Texas. It reseeds every year, and the more I pull it up, the faster it grows. I will certainly never have to replant it.

Patience is the key with this plant. In Oklahoma the soil can dry out quickly. If you need to frequently water due to hot/dry cliamate, I recommend that you spread about one half cup of coffee grounds into the soil to keep the pH fairly low. I have seen the pH of my soil rise (due to watering with 7.5pH tap water) to at least 7.1 after almost 35 days af minimal rainfall.
This plant does well when planted with Four O'Clocks (I.jalapa).

I added the Cardinal Climber only as an afterthought to a containered Mandevilla vine. It out-performed the
Mandevilla; and the humming birds love it! I'll harvest the seeds shortly, and will try it on a trellis on a
west-facing garage wall next year.

I started out planting some seeds I bought at Food Lion. Had 40 or so plants. When I planted them outside only 3 survived. The 2 that have done the best are planted in high acidic soil, and seem to love it. The hummingbirds and butterflies are always on the flowers. The hummingbirds like to hide in it as well.
Rockingham, NC

I too am somewhat confused about the nomenclature of this plant. My mother, who grew up in South Louisiana, always called this vine "Cypress Vine," so that's what I have always called it. A friend, who was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, corrected me this summer and said it was called "Cardinal Climber." Well, her plants do have a finer leaf than mine, but I am still trying to figure out if we are both right or both wrong! "The Southern Living Garden Book," the Bible of gardening in the Southern USA, lists both "Cypress Vine" and "Cardinal Climber" as common names for I. quamoclit (Quamoclit pennata) and does not list this species, but my book was published in Feb. 1998, so I really don't know if it is up to date.

I find the human propensity to try to "qualify the unqualifiable" intensely interesting, and it is most apparent in the constant debate--may I say squabble?--about plant names. Yet how else can we communicate with each other with some degree of accuracy? Well, whatever its name, this is a beautiful plant and useful for wildlife.

In my zone 4b/5a area, this is grown as an annual vine. It matures and blooms very quickly, but does not "self-sow" lasting seed for the next year. Very attractive foliage; attracts butterflies as well as hummingbirds!

Cypress Vine is still a very common name for this plant (so common in fact that I have never heard it called anything else) from Texas to Florida. Obviously it has nothing to do with true Cypress, but the name still exists.

Plant doesn't re-seed in Northeast. Soaking the seed, after scarification, speeds germination to 3 - 5 days at room temperature.

Often mistaken for Ipomoea quamoclit (aka Cypress Vine), this closely-related plant is a cross between Ipomoea coccinea and I. quamoclit) with slightly coarser leaves.

Very attractive to hummingbirds, self-seeds readily.