Morning Glory.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Annual vine

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

10 to 15 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 9 to 11

Bloom time

Early summer to first frost

Care

Provide a sturdy support structure for the vines to climb as they grow. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet. Ensure they get plenty of sunlight to encourage the best flower production.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Pruning

Trim back long vines to encourage bushier growth and remove spent flowers.

Repotting

Since these are typically grown as annuals, you usually do not need to repot them.

Soil

Well draining, fertile soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 6.8

Temperature

10 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Annual, completes life cycle in one season.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

All parts of the plant are considered toxic if ingested, especially the seeds.

Pets

These plants are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

Keep seeds away from children as they are toxic and pose a choking hazard.

Contact allergens

Handling the stems or leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is generally not considered a significant airborne allergen.

Edibility

The seeds of many Ipomoea species contain alkaloids that cause severe gastrointestinal distress if ingested.

How to identify it

• Heart shaped green leaves
• Trumpet shaped colorful flowers
• Twining stems that climb
• Blooms open in morning sun

Height

2 to 4.5m

Spread

0.6 to 1.2m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

blue, purple, pink, white, red, 5 to 10cm

Fruit

brown, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• Leaf SpotCommon
• Powdery MildewUncommon
• RustUncommon
• Slugs and SnailsUncommon
• Spider MitesUncommon
• WhiteflyUncommon
• ChlorosisRare

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring

In containers

They grow very well in pots, provided you use a container at least 30 centimeters deep with a tall trellis.

Provide a strong support structure early so the vines have a clear path to climb without tangling.

Grows well with

• Zinnia — They share similar sun and water needs while providing a colorful base for the climbing vines.
• Marigold — Marigolds help deter soil pests that might bother the root zone of the morning glory.

Similar species

• Moonflower — It is a close relative that blooms at night instead of during the day.
• Cypress Vine — It features delicate, fernlike foliage and smaller star shaped flowers.

Science

Family

Convolvulaceae

Genus

Ipomoea

Order

Solanales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Tropical regions of the Americas.

Conservation

None, though some species are considered invasive weeds in certain regions.

These vines use tendrils to climb over other vegetation to reach sunlight in dense tropical habitats.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds

Uses

vertical screening, trellis cover, container gardening, pollinator gardens

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my morning glories not blooming?

They may be getting too much nitrogen fertilizer, which encourages leaves over flowers.

Can I grow them in pots?

Yes, they thrive in containers as long as they have a sturdy trellis to climb.

Where the name comes from

The name Ipomoea comes from the Greek words ips, meaning worm, and homoios, meaning like, referring to the twining habit of the stems.

Good to know

• Morning glories belong to the Convolvulaceae family.
• They are fast growing vines that can climb several feet in a single season.
• The flowers are sensitive to light levels, which triggers their opening and closing cycle.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs