(Convolvulaceae)

Flowers are organized alphabetically by genus and species. Hover over a photo series to control the images.

Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Littlefield and Burns include field bindweed in their section on white flowers, and describe the flower as "pinkish white to white." To me it ranges from white to having splashes of pale lavender. Bindweed most often spreads along the ground but can climb a wire fence. While the flower is pretty, field bindweed is a headache for Albuquerque gardeners. Once it invades a yard, it tries to take over and is extremely difficult to eradicate.

Dodder (Cuscuta)

The most noteworthy aspect of this plant is not the many small, white, five-petaled flowers but the tendril-like stems that form a yellow mat. Look for it as a parasite on other species rather than by itself. If you pluck some dodder and come away with green leaves, those are part of the host plant.

Shaggy Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus nuttallianus)

This plant and its flowers are low and inconspicuous, so don't look for the big, showy trumpets of a garden morning glory. Note the hairy erect stems and equally hairy leaves.

Trans-Pecos Morning Glory (Ipomoea cristulata)

Look for very small but brilliantly red trumpet-shaped flowers, on a vine whose leaves may be heart-shaped but are also deeply notched. The non-native Red or Mexican Morning Glory (Ipomoea coccinea), which loooks similar, occurs less commonly in New Mexico.

Ivy-Leaf or Ivy-Leaved Morning Glory (Ipomoea hederacea)

A non-native species, included here because it has escaped into the wild.

Bush Morning Glory (Ipomoea leptophylla)

While native to New Mexico, Bush Morning Glory plants do not occur in the wild in in Albuquerque. Instead, they're mostly a species of the high plains. The 2020 examples were in someone's front yard, and the 2023 example was in a demonstration garden.

Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)

This popular garden plant has escaped into the wild, so is included here. Note the heart-shaped leaves.