Family: Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea horsfalliae, commonly called Prince Kuhio vine, is native to the West Indies, not Hawai’i. Nonnative plants given Hawaiian names can be misleading. In this case, however, the Hawaiian name fits. Prince Kuhio took notice of this plant while traveling in England in the late 1800s.  He fell in love with its beauty and brought it home to cultivate in Hawai’i.

The crimson-colored funnel-shaped flowers grow in clusters and bloom year-round. The widely branching vine comes with palmately divided leaves. Ipomoea horsfalliae exudes a clear sap when cut. Propagate by air layer, cutting, or scarified seeds (seeds are absent or extremely rare in Hawai’i). Plant on a trellis or a fence for striking year-round flowers. It prefers full sun and rich, well-drained soil.

Always proceed with caution when growing vines in Hawai’i. Even noninvasive vines can become a landscaping nightmare if they aren’t maintained.

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Cultural significance
• Ornamental
• Privacy / screening

Plant Dangers:

• Toxic to humans

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized outside native range (e.g., Jamaica)
  
• Widely introduced intentionally as an ornamental
  
• Congeneric weeds exist (other Ipomoea are noxious)
  
• Host for sweet potato weevil (agricultural pest)
  
• Climbing, smothering growth habit (to 10 m)
  
• Forms tubers that sucker when damaged
  
• Produces viable seed (with seed bank persistence)
  
• Tolerates mutilation (resprouts from tuber)

Low Risk Traits:

• No weed status documented
  
• Narrow climate suitability (tropical only, full sun)
  
• No spines, thorns, burrs, or toxic/allelopathic properties
  
• Not shade-tolerant
  
• Low seed production (few seeds, infrequent fruiting in cultivation)
  
• No specialized dispersal (not wind, water, bird, or animal-external)
  
• Slow to mature (2–3 years to reach moderate size)