Bloomipedia
Bush morning-glory (Ipomoea leptophylla)
Photo: Colin Croft via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Bush morning-glory

Ipomoea leptophylla

Bush morning-glory (Ipomoea leptophylla) is a flowering plant in the Convolvulaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native to Nebraska

Bush morning-glory is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

9states where USDA records it
226NE sightings*
1,252U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Nebraska

Quick look

Ipomoea leptophylla, the bush morning glory, bush moonflower or manroot, is a species of flowering plant in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae.

  • It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 9 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Nebraska. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 226 research-grade sightings of it in Nebraska, ranking #65 among the 147 flowers on our Nebraska list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in Nebraska (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (29 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MT (S1), WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Morning Glory” (Ipomoea spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bush morning-glory in 9 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming.

Nebraska counties with USDA records: Banner, Box Butte, Boyd, Brown, Buffalo, Cherry, Custer, Dawes, Deuel, Dundy, Garden, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Harlan, Hitchcock, Howard, Keith, Knox, Lancaster, Lincoln, Morrill, Perkins, Red Willow, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Thomas.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 184 counties across 9 states; the most are in Kansas (56), Texas (36), Nebraska (28).

Other Ipomoea on Bloomipedia (7): Tievine, Wild potato vine, Beach morning glory, Oceanblue morning glory, Beach morning-glory, Trans-Pecos morning-glory, Obscure morning glory.

More from the Convolvulaceae family (12 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Field bindweed, Texas bindweed, Carolina ponysfoot, Hairy cluster-vine, Pāʻū o Hiʻiaka.

More Nebraska flowers

Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Field bindweed

Convolvulus arvensis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NE: June–July
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in NE: June–July
Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)

Hoary vervain

Verbena stricta

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in NE

Sources