Does it need a trellis?

Yes, it is a vigorous climber that requires a sturdy support structure.

Can I grow it indoors?

It is difficult to grow indoors unless you have a very large, bright, and humid sunroom.

Plant guide

Hawaiian baby woodrose.

Argyreia nervosa

Pronounced ar-JIR-ee-uh ner-VOH-suh

Also known as Elephant creeper, Hawaiian baby woodrose, baby wood-rose, elephant-climber, elephant-creeper, elephant-vine, silken-cord, silver-morning-glory

elephant creeper — Photo by Kevin Faccenda (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This stunning tropical vine is famous for its large, heart shaped leaves and beautiful trumpet shaped flowers. It is a vigorous climber that loves to stretch out in warm, sunny spots. You will find it adds a lovely, lush feel to any space it inhabits.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Perennial vine
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 10 to 30 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Mid to late summer

Care

Provide a sturdy trellis for this climber to wrap around as it grows quickly. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet. Ensure the plant gets plenty of warmth to keep it happy and thriving.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems to manage size and encourage bushier growth.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots begin to circle the pot.
Soil: Well draining, rich organic soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 15 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are considered toxic if ingested, particularly the seeds.
Pets: This plant is considered toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep this plant away from children due to the high toxicity of the seeds and potential for skin irritation.
Contact allergens: The fine hairs on the leaves can cause mechanical skin irritation.
Airborne allergens: The fine hairs may cause respiratory irritation if inhaled during handling.
Edibility: The seeds contain potent psychoactive alkaloids and should never be ingested.

How to identify it

Large heart shaped leaves
Silvery hairs on leaf undersides
Trumpet shaped purple flowers
Woody stems on mature plants

Height: 3 to 9m
Spread: 2 to 5m
Leaves: green, silver, evergreen
Flowers: purple, lavender, white, 5 to 8cm
Fruit: brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Mealybugs · Small sap sucking insects that hide in the leaf axils.
Root rot · Occurs when the soil stays too wet for too long.

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer

Provide a very strong, permanent support structure as this vine becomes quite heavy with age.

Grows well with

Hibiscus · They share similar tropical requirements and provide a nice color contrast.
Bougainvillea · Both plants enjoy full sun and heat.

Similar species

Morning Glory · It is a related vine with similar flower shapes.

Science

Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Argyreia
Order: Solanales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Indian subcontinent
Conservation: Not currently of conservation concern.

This vine thrives in tropical forests by climbing over other vegetation to reach sunlight.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ornamental vine, privacy screen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 8/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need a trellis?: Yes, it is a vigorous climber that requires a sturdy support structure.
Can I grow it indoors?: It is difficult to grow indoors unless you have a very large, bright, and humid sunroom.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Argyreia comes from the Greek word for silver, referring to the silvery leaf undersides, while nervosa refers to the prominent leaf veins.

Good to know

It is commonly known as the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose.
The vine can grow very quickly in optimal tropical conditions.
It belongs to the morning glory family.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your hawaiian baby woodrose growing

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This guide was generated with AI on November 9, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.