Plant guide

Common morning glory.

Ipomoea purpurea

Pronounced ip-oh-MEE-uh pur-PUR-ee-uh

Also known as Annual Morning Glory, Common Morning-Glory, Common Morningglory, Tall Morning-glory, Tall Morningglory

The common morning glory is a fast growing vine that produces beautiful trumpet shaped flowers. It is a classic choice for covering fences or trellises quickly. You will love watching the blooms open in the morning sun.

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 feet
Growth rate: Fast

Care

Provide a sturdy trellis for the vines to climb as they grow. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate overwatering or poor drainage. Keep an eye out for aphids that might hide on the undersides of the foliage.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back long stems to encourage bushier growth and more flowers.
Repotting: Since this is typically grown as an annual, repotting is rarely necessary.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 6.8

Safety

Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

How to identify it

Heart shaped green leaves
Trumpet shaped flowers
Twining vine growth habit
Flowers open in morning

Science

Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Order: Solanales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Is your common morning glory looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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