Ipomoea leptophylla aka Bush Moonflower

Ipomoea leptophylla is in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae. Its names include bush moon flower and Colorado man-root. It comes from the west-central and central United States. Its range takes in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It also grows in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. In the wild, it grows on plains and dry banks. It grows on sandy shores too. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This perennial lives for more than one year. It grows to about 4 feet [1.2 metres] tall. Kew calls it a tuberous subshrub. Plants For A Future says it forms a clump. The clump has limited spread. The same source says its stems twine around nearby plants. Its large roots can reach 4 feet [1.2 metres] long. Reports give root weights of up to 24 pounds. Such large roots likely come from plants over three years old.

Choose a warm site in full sun to grow it. Plants For A Future calls for rich soil that drains well. It lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. Soil can be mildly acid, neutral, or mildly alkaline. Wild plants grow on dry banks, but this source calls for moist soil. It lists USDA zones 8–11. In Britain, it suggests using a greenhouse for shelter. One plant lived through two winters outdoors in a Cornwall pot. A later cold, wet winter killed it. This small record leaves doubt about its outdoor hardiness in Britain.

Raise new plants from seeds or side shoots. Soak seeds in warm water for twelve hours before sowing. Or scarify the seed coat: make a nick in it. Sow in separate pots under glass in early spring. Seeds take one to three weeks to sprout at 72°F. Young plants dislike disturbance to their roots. Handle their roots with care. Keep young seedlings under glass through their first winter. Plant them out after the last expected frost. Layering is one more way to raise new plants.

Plants For A Future lists the root as edible. It can be eaten raw or cooked. The source calls young roots sweet, crisp, and tender. Other reports note poor taste and use as famine food. The source favours roots two to three years old. It records Indigenous use for stomach complaints and pain relief. These records do not prove such use is safe or works. Some Indigenous groups also used roots to hold smouldering fire. The source reports no known hazards. It gives no evidence of safety for pets.