Native Plants of Hawai‘i

Ipomoea indica

Convolvulaceae or Morning glory family

Synonyms: Convolvulus indicus, Ipomoea acuminata, Ipomoea congesta, Ipomoea indica f. alba, Ipomoea insularis, Pharbitis insularis

Koali ʻawa

Koali ʻawahia, Koali lāʻau (Ni‘ihau)

Blue dawn flower, Blue morning glory, Oceanblue morning glory

Natural Range & Environment

Today (2026), Ipomoea indica is found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide due to a long history of introduction and cultivation. Therefore, its native origin is unclear. Some authorities think it originated in the Neotropics (i.e., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America) and spread to other parts of the world via introductions [World Flora Online]. However, Flora of the Hawaiian Islands and Plants of Hawai‘i consider I. indica to be indigenous to Kure Atoll (Mokupāpapa), Midway Atoll (Pihemanu), Lisianski (Papaʻāpoho), Laysan (Kauō), Nihoa, and all the main Hawaiian Islands. Unsurprisingly, the species has become invasive in some parts of the world, such as Australia and New Zealand [WikipediA; Ipomoea indica]. In Hawai‘i, koali ʻawa grows in dry, often disturbed areas, from near sea level to usually 150 m (492 ft) with extreme reports of 1,250 m (4,101 ft) [Wagner et al. 1990].

In Hawai‘i, the color of koali ʻawa flowers can range all the way from purplish blue to white (all photographs, including the header, courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 4.0).

The flowers of koali ʻawa turn from blue to pink (photograph courtesy of Kevin Faccenda CC BY 4.0). Since this doesn't happen to all the flowers of a plant at the same time, could this be a signal to pollinators? While koali ʻawa rarely produces seeds, it's quite easy to get stem cuttings to root (photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 3.0 US). Koali ʻawa often grows where there is nothing to climb on; however, given an opportunity, it's a good climber (photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0).

Description

Koali ʻawa is a climbing vine (without tendrils) that is typically herbaceous but may become somewhat woody near its base on older plants. Stems can be hairy to hairless. While a perennial, the lifespan of wild plants seems to be quite variable, with some plants living for many years (but periodically dying back) while others seem to last only one to a few years. Cultivated plants have a similar variable lifespan depending upon the environmental conditions of the planting site and the amount of care afforded.

Koali ʻawa has heart-shaped, egg-shaped, or trilobed leaves up to 3 inches (8 cm) long. The leaf surfaces are dull and often hairy (particularly the lower surface), but some plants have been found with hairless leaves.

Koali ʻawa produces clusters (cymes) of one to a few flowers. The flowers are large (about 2 inches [5 cm] across), funnel-shaped, perfect (bisexual), and open for a single day. Blooming is continuous or nearly so. Flower color can vary from purplish blue to white; however, individual plants remain true to their flower color. Over the course of the day, blue-colored flowers typically turn pinkish. Since this doesn't happen to all the flowers of a plant at the same time (see photograph above), I (Koebele) suspect there may be something interesting going on here, such as a pollination-triggered color change.

In Hawai‘i, Ipomoea indica rarely produces fruits, which is surprising given how much it flowers. Hopefully, someone will formally investigate and explain this seemingly inefficient behavior. When they do form, the round, hairless fruits dry into brown capsules about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter, with each capsule containing a few tan to brown seeds [Wagner et al. 1990].

There are over a dozen species of Ipomoea in Hawai‘i, with the majority being non-native. Most can be distinguished from koali ʻawa (I. indica) by comparing the size and shape of their flowers, and since morning glories are nearly always flowering, this is usually easy to do. However, a few Ipomoea species have flowers that look very similar to those of koali ʻawa. Pictured below are three species with flowers very similar to those of koali ʻawa. Both I. cairica (koali ‘ai) and I. pes-caprae (pōhuehue) can be distinguished from koali ʻawa by the shape of their leaves. While koali ʻawa has heart-shaped, egg-shaped, or trilobed leaves, I. cairica has leaves with 5 to 7 deeply divided lobes, while I. pes-caprae has thick, often leathery leaves that resemble the foot of a goat. For I. purpurea (common morning-glory), look for (1) its fruit capsules, which are normally abundant, while those of koali ʻawa are usually absent or rare; (2) heart-shaped or unlobed leaves, while koali ʻawa often has at least a few 3-lobed leaves; (3) flower sepals that are shorter (less than 1.5 cm) than those of koali ʻawa (more than 1.4 cm); and (4) flowers that normally don't (dramatically) change color as they age.

While Ipomoea indica has heart-shaped, egg-shaped, or trilobed leaves, I. cairica has leaves with 5 to 7 deeply divided lobes (photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 3.0).

While Ipomoea indica has heart-shaped, egg-shaped, or trilobed leaves, I. pes-caprae has leaves that resemble the foot of a goat (photograph courtesy of Forest & Kim Starr CC BY 2.0).

While Ipomoea indica very rarely produces fruits/capsules, it's common to see fruits/capsules on I. purpurea (photograph courtesy of Dinkum Public Domain).

Growth Requirements

General

In the wild, koali ʻawa tends to grow rapidly, flower profusely, and then decline, die back, sometimes disappearing completely, only to reappear and start this cycle anew. Landscape location and time invested in pest management seem to largely determine the length of this cycle for cultivated plants, with dry, sunny sites near the ocean and rapid pest monitoring and treatment prolonging the time koali ʻawa will remain a prominent landscape feature. Because of this impermanence, koali ʻawa is best used as a temporary (but often repeating) feature in your landscape rather than something more permanent such as a groundcover. Because koali ʻawa is a climbing vine that can grow rapidly and smother nearby plants, avoid planting it close to your other native plants unless you are willing to regularly prune it. Similarly, as a container plant, the long vines of koali ʻawa need to be regularly pruned.

Koali ʻawa does best in a site with full sunlight for all or most of the day. Once established in the ground (after a few weeks), it's unlikely you'll need to water your plant at all unless it displays obvious signs of drought stress (e.g., wilted leaves). However, if you do see wilted leaves, before watering, inspect your plant for an alternative cause — the sweetpotato weevil. Obviously, containerized koali ʻawa require regular watering.

Koali ʻawa can tolerate extreme heat, drought, strong winds, and some salt spray. It doesn't seem to be fussy about soil or media and will grow in sandy, calcareous, clay, cinder/lava, and organic-dominant types, provided the soil or media drains water readily. Avoid fertilizing in-the-ground plants since this is likely to make them more attractive to pests. If your potted koali ʻawa fails to grow, you can try applying a balanced controlled-release fertilizer every six months or a foliar fertilizer at ⅓ to ¼ the recommended strength every few months.

Ipomoea indica in Hawai‘i (maybe elsewhere?) seems to seldom set seed despite its intense flowering. (However, if your plant does produce seeds, be sure to collect and store them in your refrigerator.) Therefore, the surest way to ensure replacement plants in case your koali ʻawa dies (and does not reappear) is by rooting stem cuttings. This isn't too difficult, and according to Kim Marz & Forest Starr, one of the best ways is simply to place the cuttings in a bucket of water [RNGR; Ipomoea indica].

Pests and Diseases

Koali ʻawa is vulnerable to many of the same pests that attack other Ipomoea in Hawai‘i, such as ‘uala (sweet potato; Ipomoea batatas), hunakai (Ipomoea imperati), pōhuehue (Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis) and Ipomoea tuboides. Most damaging among them is the sweetpotato weevil (Cylas formicarius). Other pests include the sweet potato bug (Physomerus grossipes), flea beetles, and spider mites. If your landscape is home to or visited by snails and slugs, these can also become a problem. These pests are usually less common and their damage less severe for plants growing in sunny, dry sites and/or near the ocean. Refer to the Pests and Diseases section of Ipomoea imperati and Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis as well as the Pests & Diseases page for more information and ways to battle these pests.

Uses

Ancient Hawaiian

Abbott [1992] describes two ancient uses of koali ʻawa: (1) Hawaiians would drink the juice from the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers as a purgative, sometimes with extreme results; (2) the bark of the roots and vines, mashed and mixed with salt, was used to treat broken bones. Because the mixture would burn the skin, it was bound in place with a ki (Cordyline fruticosa) leaf placed between the mash and the skin. Krauss [1993] describes similar uses for koali with fewer details.

Hawaiians fashioned a swing made of koali (a more generic name for morning glories) for two people (usually a boy and a girl). However, unlike modern swings, the swing was kept in motion by a third person who pulled on a cord or vine attached to the swing's seat [Krauss 1993; Neal 1965].

Modern

Despite the purgative use described above, it would be extremely unwise to ingest any part of Ipomoea indica, particularly its seeds, since it is considered toxic to humans [NSW WeedWise].

Special Features and Information

General

Convolvulaceae contains more than 1,650 species within about 60 genera distributed worldwide in both tropical and temperate regions. Most are herbaceous vines or herbs, but the family also includes some trees and shrubs [WikipediA;Convolvulaceae, Britannica; Convolvulaceae].

In addition to Ipomoea indica, native Hawaiian members of Convolvulaceae include the endemic and endangered Bonamia menziesii; the indigenous makihi (Cressa truxillensis); the endemic and parasitic kaunaʻoa (Cuscuta sandwichiana); the indigenous hunakai (I. imperati), White-flowered beach morning glory (I. littoralis), and pōhuehue (I. pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis); the endemic Hawaiian moon flower (I. tuboides); and the endemic pāʻu-o-hiʻiaka (Jacquemontia sandwicensis) [Flora of the Hawaiian Islands]. Koali ʻawa is also related to the non-native and locally popular food plants ʻuala, or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and ung-choi, or swamp cabbage (I. aquatica).

Hawaiian Name

Koali is a more generalized name for morning glories but can also mean "swing," "to swing," "twirl about," or "twine" [Pukui & Elbert 1986]. This is likely a reference to the vines being used as swings (see Uses above).

The name Koali pehu is listed by Wagner et al. [1990] as a name for Ipomoea indica and as a "large form of koali ʻawa" in Pukui & Elbert [1986], with Pukui & Elbert citing Neal [1965], page 705, as their source. However, Neal [1965] only refers to Koali pehu as a name for Ipomoea alba, not I. indica.

Etymology

Ipomoea is derived from the Greek words, ips, for "worm," and homoios, meaning "similar to," referring to the species' twining habit [Wagner et al. 1990]. The species name, indica, means "from India" but was also used generally to mean "from the Orient" [Gledhill 2008] or the East Indies. However, for this species, indica may be referring to the West Indies of the New World (see Native Range & Environment above).

BPK