I'm in NW Florida, not far from you. I got my first bloom, started in Feb., just a couple of weeks ago.

Oh that's good to hear, thanks! You wouldn't believe what I've been through trying to grow these vines... neighbor "weeding" them for me 2 years ago, dog stepping on them last year, forgot to water the first tray of seedlings this year, crazy times!

Same here, they bloom late even when I start them in the winter. At least you have a longer growing season. We usually get a hard frost in Oct. I've wintered a potted Ipomoea Alba over in the greenhouse and did get very early blooms the following year. As a matter of fact it pretty much just bloomed thru the winter but it grows like mad and isn't a well behaved greenhouse plant. It's not bad if you keep it cut back over the winter. I had to wait a bit but still got flowers by late spring.

This evening.

Since I start my seeds out-of-doors, here in zone 7, blooms usually start coming in late August, moonflower included.
You can actually see them slowly open. Seems they would be popular with night flying moths.

Can anyone tell me if this is a moonflower bud or morning glory bud?

nopets - The sepals are NOT that of Ipomoea alba or Ipomoea muricata, nor Ipomoea macrorhiza but the calyx and unopened flower look like a light colored Ipomoea purpurea....

You might want to start a separate thread for this plant or any others that you may have that require an ID.

regards,

Ron