Ipomoea–commonly called Morning glory–is a fast-growing short-lived perennial or annual twining climber with heart-shaped leaves and, from summer to early fall, funnel-shaped, white, pink, red, blue, or variegated flowers. Ipomoea can quickly cover a fence, wall, or rose arch.
Ipomoea flowers are abundant though usually very short-lived. Flowers are trumpet-shaped or tubular. They usually open in the morning and fade in the early afternoon. Morning glories bloom during summer and early autumn.
The best-known Ipomoea species include the decorative blue dawn flower, the useful sweet-potato, and a weed called wild sweet-potato-vine. There is some confusion between this genus and Convolvulus, also called morning glory.
Ipomoea is easily grown in fairly good soil. Ipomoea will tolerate most situations. Placing a trellis or support in place at planting time will help ensure stems do not become tangled as they grow; this will allow for the best display of blooms.
One important note: the seeds of many species are poisonous.
Get to Know Ipomoea
- Plant type: Annual summer and fall-blooming vine; perennial in very warm zones
- Growing Zones and range: 2-11
- Hardiness: Tender
- Height and width: 18 inches (20cm) to 15 feet (3m) depending on growing conditions
- Foliage: Vigorous, twining stems with heart-shape green leaves 4 to 5 inches long
- Flowers: Trumpet-shape flowers 3 to 5 inches wide
- Flower colors: Blues, reds, pinks, lavenders, white, and bi-colors, sometimes striped or margined wit contrasting colors
- Bloom time: Summer and fall
- Uses: Grow on large trellis, fence, or let crawl as a groundcover
- Common name: Morning Glory
- Botanical name: Ipomoea spp.
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Origin: Native to warm regions worldwide
Where to Plant Ipomoea
- Plant morning glory in full sun.
- Grow morning glory in average to humus-rich well-drained soil.
- Most ipomoeas require strings, a trellis, or other support on which to climb.
- Ipomoea prefers a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5
Ipomoea Uses
- Grow Ipomoea on trellises, fences, or arbors.
- Use Ipomoea as a quick screen grown on a trellis.
- Ipomoea can trail across the ground as a groundcover.
When to Plant Ipomoea
- Plant morning glory in late winter or spring after all danger of soil has passed.
- Sow seeds indoors in individual pots 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost.
- Germination takes 7 to 21 days at 65° to 70°F (18°-21°C).
- To speed germination, nick seed oats with a knife or file or soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing.
- Seedlings need a stake to climb on even when they are small; otherwise, vines can become entangled.
- Transplant seedlings to the garden once temperatures remain warmer than 45°F (7.2°C).
- Sow seeds directly in the garden 2 weeks after the last spring frost. Put the trellis in place before sowing seed.
Planting and Spacing Ipomoea
- Space morning glory 3 to 15 feet (.9-4.5m) apart depending on the variety.
- Plant seeds directly in soil; soak seeds in warm or tepid water for 24 hours to soften seed coat before sowing.
- Work a few spadefuls of compost into the soil or add slow-release fertilizer.
How to Water and Feed Ipomoea
- Morning glory needs ample moisture for best flowering; keep the soil evenly moist.
- Limit fertilizer to keep plant size in check.
Ipomoea Care
- Mulch around morning glory to conserve soil moisture.
- Ipomoea can self-sow; remove plants you don’t want.
- Ipomoea can be trained to a trellis or up fences and trellises. Set supports in place before or right after sowing seed or setting out seedlings.
Growing Ipomoea as a Houseplant
- Ipomoea purpurea can be grown as a houseplant.
- Grow Ipomoea in a soulless medium in a warm room where light is direct and humidity is average to high.
- The medium should be kept barely moist at all times.
- Fertilize monthly while the plant is flowering.
- A trellis or other support is required if the plant is not grown in a hanging basket.
Ipomoea Common Problems
- Seedlings can be slow to develop.
- Too much fertilizer or water can promote vegetative growth as the expense of flowers.
- Aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, red spider mites and whitefly can attack Ipomoea.
- Leaf spot and root rot can occur.
Ipomoea Propagation
- Sow seed in spring; from seed, plants will bloom in about 6 months.
- Seeds are very hard; for good germination, nick seed coat with a file or soak in lukewarm water overnight.
- Seeds germinate in 7 to 21 days.
- For earliest blooms, start seeds indoors at 70° to 75°F (21°-24°C) in peat pots.
- Perennial Ipomoea can be propagated by cuttings taken in spring or summer.
Ipomoea Varieties to Grow
- Ipomea acuminata, blue morning glory: Perennial; rapid growth 15 to 30 (4.5-9m) feet; flowers bright blue fading to pink, 3 to 5 inches (7.6-12cm) across.
- I. alba, moonflower: Perennial, fast-growth 20 to 30 feet (2.25-9m); night-blooming flowers to 6 inches (15cm) across in white, sometimes lavender pink
- I. batata, sweet potato: Perennial grown in food gardens; plants grow to 10 feet (1.1m) bear pale purple flowers in summer; ‘Blackie’ bears dark purple-black leaves.
- I. corrinea, red morning glory, star morning glory: Annual; vigorous grower to 6 feet (1.8m) bears clusters of small 3/4 inch scarlet trumpet flowers in summer.
- I. hederacea: Annual climber grows 6 to 10 feet (1.8-3m) long; bears clusters of 1 inch wide blue, purple, or purple-red flowers in summer.
- I. lobata, Spanish flag: Tender perennial grows 6 to 15 feet (1.8-4.5m)l bears small tubular flowers initially red then turn to orange, yellow, and cream with age.
- I. x multifida, cardinal climber: Annual cross between I. corrinea and I. quamocliot; bears small crimson flowers in summer.
- I. nil, morning glory: Short-lived perennial bears large flowers in a range of colors in summer; grows to 15 feet (4.5m); several cultivars include ‘Chocolate’ and ‘Scarlett O’Hara.’
- I. purpurea, common morning glory: Annual climber grows 6 to 10 feet (1.8-3m); bears 2-inch-wide trumpet flowers in shades of blue, purple-blue, pink, white, or red, also some with stripes of color.
- I. quamocliot, cypress vine: Annual grows 6 to 20 feet; bears small scarlet flowers in summer.
- I. tricolor, morning glory: Vigorous annual; the most popular morning glory; grows 10 to 12 feet; bears 3-inch-wide pale blue to purple flowers with white throats; cultivar ‘Crimson Rambler’ has red flowers with white throat; cultivar ‘Heavenly Blue’ bear sky blue flowers with white throats and ‘Pearly Gates’ bears white flowers.
