Railroad Vine
Ipomoea pes-caprae
Last reviewed: August 2026
Railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is a trailing beach and dune plant that spreads along sandy coastal soils from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Southeast, blooming from March through November with funnel shaped pink flowers.
Railroad Vine is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Railroad Vine as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 48"–180" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 3 more states
Pollinators
bees, moths, hummingbirds, nectar insects
Before you buy
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Railroad Vine is a fast-spreading coastal ground cover with thick, succulent-like leaves and showy purple morning glory flowers. This aggressive vine can quickly cover large areas and is extremely salt and drought tolerant. It blooms consistently from spring through fall with flowers that open in the morning.
Growing Railroad Vine
Grow Railroad Vine in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 48 to 180 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Railroad Vine takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only, mid zone.
- Spread too large for structured beds
Wildlife value
The large purple flowers attract bees, moths, and other nectar-loving insects throughout its extended blooming season. Night-flying moths are particularly drawn to the flowers.
Common questions
- How much sun does railroad vine need?
- Railroad vine grows best in full sun and tolerates part sun locations, which matches its habit of sprawling across open, exposed dunes and beach edges.
- How much water does railroad vine require?
- This vine is adapted to low water conditions and sandy, fast draining soil, so it rarely needs supplemental irrigation once established.
- When does railroad vine bloom?
- Flowering typically runs from March through November, with individual blooms opening in the morning and closing by early afternoon.
- What pollinators visit railroad vine flowers?
- Bees, moths, hummingbirds, and other nectar seeking insects visit the flowers, which stay open long enough in the morning to attract daytime foragers.
- Is railroad vine evergreen?
- In warm coastal climates it keeps its leaves year round, though foliage can thin or die back after a hard frost.
- Is Railroad Vine toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Railroad Vine is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Railroad Vine toxic to cats?
- Yes. Railroad Vine is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Railroad Vine toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Railroad Vine as toxic to livestock.
- Is Railroad Vine HOA-friendly?
- Railroad Vine takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Railroad Vine and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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