Elephant Creeper
Also known as: Argyreia nervosa · Woolly Morning Glory
Poisonous — do not eat
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Nick or file the hard seed coat, soak 24 hours, then sow in a large pot of well-drained mix. Provide a strong trellis and warmth. Protect from frost.
Grower's tip
Large tropical morning glory relative with heart-shaped fuzzy leaves and showy pink trumpet flowers. Fast-growing in heat; can become invasive in frost-free areas.
Good to know before you grow this
Can spread aggressively and is invasive in some regions — check your local invasive-species list before planting.
Soil preferences
Well-drained soil with steady moisture at the root zone.
6.0–7.0
Compost at planting; go easy on nitrogen or you get all leaf and no flower or fruit.
Watering
Even moisture through flowering and fruiting; vines dry out fast on a sunny wall.
Soaker or drip at the base — never onto the canopy.
Overwatered: yellow lower leaves, mildew. Underwatered: curled tips, dropped flowers.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the soil line with drip or soaker — tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and most veg resent wet leaves (blight, mildew, rust). Bottom-water only during seed-starting until transplants are rooted through.
Temperature tolerance
70–85°F (21–29°C) for annual vines; hardy woody vines are much broader
55–70°F (13–21°C)
Annual vines are frost-tender; woody perennial vines are hardy to their rated zone.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
5–15 gal (19–57 L) with a trellis anchored to the pot or wall
Potted vines dry out daily in heat — plan for it before you plant.
Detailed harvesting
Nothing here is harvested for the kitchen. Wear gloves for any cutting or deadheading, keep the sap off your skin and eyes, and wash your hands and tools afterwards.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Do not dry, store or preserve any part of this plant near food. Bag prunings for the bin — never compost them where animals browse, and never burn them.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Ornamental only — this plant is poisonous and has no food, tea or home-remedy use. Grow it for looks, wear gloves, and keep it away from children, pets and livestock.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Insect-pollinated for most species.
Isolate or bag flowers to keep a strain true.
Let pods or fruit ripen fully on the vine, then clean and dry the seed.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for elephant creeper in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Elephant Creeper notes
Elephant Creeper seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
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