Skyblue clustervine

Pictured above: Skyblue clustervine (Jacquemontia pentanthos). Photo by Alan Cressler, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Click on terms for botanical definitions. View post as a PDF.

Skyblue clustervine (Jacquemontia pentanthos) is an evergreen, twining vine that produces many small but showy flowers. Bloom colors range from sky blue to pinkish-lavender, all with white throats. Leaves are deeply veined and oval– to cordate-shaped.

Also known as Key West morning-glory or Pineland clustervine, Skyblue clustervine occurs naturally in coastal hammocks and along wetlands in South Florida. It typically flowers in winter, but is known to bloom from early fall through late spring.

Skyblue clustervine is a member of the morning glory family, so flowers open in the morning. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including the Nessus sphinx (Amphion floridensis), Tantalus sphinx (Aellopus tantalus) and Tersa sphinx (Xylophanes tersa) moths, which pollinate the flowers at dusk.

It is an endangered species in Florida.

Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning glory family)
Native range: Collier, Monroe (mainland and the Keys), Miami-Dade and Broward counties
To see where natural populations of skyblue clustervine have been vouchered, visit florida.plantatlas.usf.edu.
Hardiness: 10B–11
Soil: Moist but well-drained sand or lime rock
Exposure: Full sun to minimal shade
Growth habit: trailing vine, 6–12’+ with support
Propagation: Seed, cuttings, air-layering
Garden tips: Skyblue clustervine works well on a trellis or as a groundcover.

Skyblue clustervine is often available at nurseries that specialize in native plants. Visit PlantRealFlorida.org to find a native nursery on your area.