Family: Convolvulaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Stictocardia beraviensis is native to tropical Africa, including regions from Madagascar to Botswana. It is a vigorous, twining vine in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), known for its lush growth and attractive, funnel-shaped flowers. The plant is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental climber in tropical and subtropical gardens, where it is used to quickly cover fences, trellises, and other vertical structures. Its fast-growing habit and showy blooms make it appealing for landscaping in warm climates.

Risks & Threats
Although Stictocardia beraviensis is not known to be naturalized in Hawaiʻi, it does possess traits that are cause for concern. As a fast-growing, climbing vine, it has the potential to smother and outcompete surrounding vegetation if it were to escape cultivation. In tropical environments similar to Hawaiʻi, aggressive ornamental vines can become difficult to manage and may spread beyond intended plantings. Ongoing evaluation is needed to determine its potential to establish and impact Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems, and caution is recommended to ensure that it does not negatively affect native and naturalized plant communities.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in Kruger National Park, South Africa
  
• Possibly weedy in cultivated settings
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Climbing/smothering growth habit
  
• Reaches maturity in under 1 year
  
• Seeds dispersed intentionally by people and by water
  
• Can resprout if only aboveground vegetative material is removed

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Valued as an ornamental for the showy flowers