Fauna
Flower

Tievine

Ipomoea cordatotriloba

Also known as Cotton Morning Glory, Sharppod Morning Glory, Three-Lobed Morning Glory

Tievine is a vigorous trailing or climbing morning glory that quickly blankets fence lines, field margins, and open thickets with slender, twine-forming stems. Its funnel-shaped blossoms range from pale lavender to vibrant purple with a deep violet center, opening in the morning sun and fading by late afternoon. Emerging from an enduring tuberous taproot, it resprouts readily after mowing or winter frosts, making it a remarkably resilient native pioneer plant.

Climbing VineWildflowerDrought Tolerant
Tievine reference1 / 7
(c) Bob Peterson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Soil nitrates, Groundwater
Predators
  • Golden tortoise beetle
  • Sweetpotato hornworm
  • White-tailed deer
ThreatsAgricultural herbicide application, intense tillage, and competition from aggressive non-native vines
HabitatsRoadsides, fallow fields, pastures, ditch banks, open woods, and coastal dunes
Life spanPerennial (above-ground vines often die back to the taproot annually)
Classification
  1. OrderSolanales
  2. FamilyConvolvulaceae
  3. GenusIpomoea
  4. SpeciesIpomoea cordatotriloba
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Seeds and foliage contain alkaloids toxic to pets and livestock; avoid ingestion.
Why it is dangerous
Seeds contain ergoline alkaloids that can induce vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors if ingested by pets or livestock.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by climbing stems, variable heart-shaped or deeply three-lobed leaves, and lavender to violet trumpets with dark throats.
What to do
Keep curious pets away from seeding pods and wash hands after clearing overgrown vines.
Responsible observation
  • Morning Photography: Photograph blossoms early in the day before intense heat causes flowers to collapse.
  • Root Inspection: Look near the soil surface to spot the swollen perennial taproot anchor.
  • Garden Management: Prune aggressively along fences if attempting to keep it from smothering nearby perennials.
Related species
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