Do I need to soak the seeds?

Yes, soaking seeds in warm water overnight helps improve germination rates.

It is an annual in most climates, though it may self seed readily.

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.

Another photo of Common morning glory — Photo by M. Whitson (CC BY) via iNaturalist

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
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 11
Bloom time: Early summer to first frost

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
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The seeds contain alkaloids that are harmful if consumed in quantity.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep seeds away from children as they are toxic if swallowed.
Contact allergens: The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is not typically considered a major allergen.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested and can cause severe gastrointestinal distress.

How to identify it

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

Height: 2 to 3m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: purple, blue, pink, white, 4 to 7cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Leaf SpotCommon
Spider MitesUncommon
WhiteflyUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your common morning glory from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: Spring

Provide a sturdy trellis or fence for the vines to climb early in the season.

Grows well with

Zinnia · They share similar sun and water requirements.
Cosmos · These provide a nice textural contrast to the vine foliage.

Similar species

Moonflower · It is a related vine that blooms at night instead of the morning.

Science

Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Ipomoea
Order: Solanales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Tropical Americas
Conservation: This plant is considered invasive in many regions and should be managed carefully.

It thrives by rapidly climbing over other vegetation to reach sunlight in disturbed areas.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds
Uses: vertical screening, trellis cover, cottage garden

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to soak the seeds?: Yes, soaking seeds in warm water overnight helps improve germination rates.
Is it a perennial?: It is an annual in most climates, though it may self seed readily.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Ipomoea comes from the Greek words for worm and likeness, referring to the twining habit of the stems.

Good to know

Morning glories have been cultivated for centuries.
They are fast growing vines that can climb several feet in a single season.
The flowers are sensitive to light levels.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your common morning glory growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.