Tarulata (Cypress Vine) Flower Plant

Tarulata (botanical name: Ipomoea quamoclit) is a fast-growing, annual climbing vine famous for its vibrant star-shaped flowers and delicate, feathery foliage. Commonly known in English as the Cypress Vine, Hummingbird Vine, or Star Glory, it belongs to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). In various regions of South Asia, it is affectionately called Tarulata, Kamalata.

PLANT OVERVIEW & FEATURES

• FOLIAGE: Features distinct, bright green leaves that are deeply divided into thread-like segments, giving the vine a soft, fern-like appearance. Interestingly, the delicate leaves tend to recoil from harsh direct afternoon sunlight and expand beautifully by sundown.

• FLOWERS: Small, trumpet-shaped, five-pointed star flowers. While scarlet red is the most common colour, they also bloom in striking shades of pink and white.

• POLLINATOR FRIENDLY: The nectar-rich blooms are highly attractive to butterflies, honeybees, and hummingbirds.

• GROWTH HABIT: A rapid, twining vine that can easily grow 3 to 10 feet (and sometimes up to 15 feet) in a single season. It requires a support structure like a trellis, fence, net, or pergola to climb.

GROWTH REQUIREMENTS

Tarulata is a low-maintenance, hardy plant that rewards you with continuous blooms if given a few basic requirements:

• SUNLIGHT: Requires Full Sun (at least 4–6 hours of direct sunlight daily) for dense growth and heavy blooming.

• WATERING: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Water whenever the topsoil feels dry to the touch.

• SOIL: Well-drained, light soil mix. A combination of 50% clay and 50% sand/organic matter works ideally.

• FERTILIZER: Very minimal to none. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer promotes lush green leaves but reduces the count of flowers.

• BLOOMING SEASONS: Tropical climates (like India and Bangladesh), it flowers heavily from August to December.