Family: Convolvulaceae

Smaller perennial morning glory vine climbing 2-6’ high or growing on the ground as a ground cover. Plants emerge from a tuberous taproot. Pink to white flowers occur spring through fall. Our Arizona plants usually have more pink flowers and plants found more east of here tend to be more white, though variation is always possible.

Best in part sun, though full sun is tolerable if reflective heat is avoided. Moderate water with good drainage when established. Hardiness unknown but the plants are native up to to 6500’ in elevation so they can definitely take the cold we get in the valleys. Reseeds readily in the landscape.

Flowers are pollinated by insects who also feed on the leaves. In Texas, White-tailed deer eat the plant and Bobwhite quail feed on the seeds. Larval host for the painted crescent butterfly.

Found in upper desert areas in chaparral and pinyon-juniper communities; sandy or rocky well drained soils; roadsides, dry rocky slopes, mesas and disturbed areas, 2500-6500’ in the wider southwest USA and northern into central Mexico.

The genus Convolvulus means interwoven; and the species equitans means overlapping in 2 ranks, probably referring to the arrangement of the leaves.

Photo by Max Licher, SEINET
Convolvulus equitans on iNaturalist