Calystegia malacophylla ~ Woolly Morning Glory, Jepson's Morning Glory

Calystegia malacophylla is common in the foothills and mountains surrounding the Central Valley in California. Woolly Morning Glory grows flat on the ground and spreads to 4 feet or more. Our Southern California plants belong to a subspecies called by the common name Jepson's Morning Glory. Sierra Mountain and Northern plants are often called Sierra Morning Glory. Calystegia malacophylla has densly hairy 1" spade shaped leaves. Calystegia malacophylla blooms late Spring into Summer with 1" White Flowers, sometimes with pink markings along the rib lines. Calystegia malacophylla is an important plant for the native bees. At times every flower has a bee, sometimes just hanging out in there. Kind of like a bee pup tent. Calystegia malacophylla prefers well drained soils and full sun. Calystegia malacophylla can be found from the coastal Chaparral to the openings in the Pine forests. Calystegia malacophylla spreads by underground rhizomes as well as seed.