Ipomoea cairica

Cairo Morning Glory, Mile-a-Minute Vine, Messina Creeper, Coastal Morning Glory

Message of the Flower

Detachment from all that is not the Divine

The Mother’s Comment

A single occupation, a single aim, a single joy - the Divine.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Detachment from the imperfections and weaknesses of one's nature means that one stands back from them, does not identify oneself with them or get upset or troubled because they are there, but rather looks on them as something foreign to one's true consciousness and true self, rejects them and calls in the Mother's Force into these movements to eliminate them and bring the true consciousness and its movements there.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - III: Descent and the Lower Nature

You must always step back into yourself—learn to go deep within—step back and you will be safe. Do not lend yourself to the superficial forces which move in the outside world. Even if you are in a hurry to do something, step back for a while and you will discover to your surprise how much sooner and with what greater success your work can be done. If someone is angry with you, do not be caught in his vibrations but simply step back and his anger, finding no support or response, will vanish. Always keep your peace, resist all temptation to lose it. Never decide anything without stepping back, never speak a word without stepping back, never throw yourself into action without stepping back. All that belongs to the ordinary world is impermanent and fugitive, so there is nothing in it worth getting upset about. What is lasting, eternal, immortal and infinite—that indeed is worth having, worth conquering, worth possessing. It is Divine Light, Divine Love, Divine Life—it is also Supreme Peace, Perfect Joy and All-Mastery upon earth with the Complete Manifestation as the crowning.

The Mother, Questions and Answers 1929 - 1931: Stepping Back

Colour

Light rose purple or light mauve, deep rose purple

Family

Convolvulaceae

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

1.5 to 2 inches in diameter

Flower Texture

Smooth, delicate

Number of Petals

Five, fused into a trumpet shape

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Mildly fragrant

Leaf Texture

Smooth, slightly glossy

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Deep green

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Vine

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Year-round in tropical climates, predominantly in spring and summer

Climate

Tropical and subtropical

Water Requirements

Moderate, drought-tolerant but performs best with regular watering

Soil Type

Adaptable, prefers well-drained soils

Temperature Ranges

Frost-sensitive, thrives in warm climates

Sun or Shade

Prefers full sun, tolerates partial shade

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Aphids, spider mites, fungal diseases

Pollinators

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

Habitat

Native to tropical Asia and Africa, invasive elsewhere

Role in the Ecosystem

Cover and nectar for pollinators, can be aggressive invader

Quotations

None noted

Ornamental

Attractive flowers, fast-growing

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Ornamental, erosion control

Endangered Status

Not endangered, considered invasive