Flower profile
Obscure morning glory
Ipomoea obscura
Obscure morning glory (Ipomoea obscura) is a vine in the Convolvulaceae family.
Obscure morning glory is a wildflower.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Hawaii
Quick look
The Ipomoea obscura, commonly known as the obscure morning glory or the small white morning glory, is a species of the genus Ipomoea. It is an invasive species native to parts of Africa, Asia, and certain Pacific Islands. While the plant's seeds are toxic, the leaves can be used for many different medicinal purposes.
- It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Hawaii. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 944 research-grade sightings of it in Hawaii, ranking #47 among the 118 flowers on our Hawaii list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. NatureServe
- Hawaii
- Not listed Not on Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Hawaii. HAR 13-107
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
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.
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 obscure morning glory in 1 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Hawaii.
Hawaii counties with USDA records: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui.
Names, range and relatives
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 4 counties across 1 states; the most are in Hawaii (4).
Other Ipomoea on Bloomipedia (7): Tievine, Wild potato vine, Beach morning glory, Oceanblue morning glory, Beach morning-glory, Trans-Pecos morning-glory, Bush 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 Hawaii flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile IPOB.
- iNaturalist, Ipomoea obscura: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Ipomoea obscura (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Hawaii: Hawaii threatened and endangered plants (HAR 13-107; the state list follows the federal list), DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
- Hawaii: Hawaii noxious weed list (HAR 4-68).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Ipomoea obscura (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: Rupert Clayton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.