Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)
Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Monthly Theme: Morning has broken like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Morning glory has opened like the first flower.
This month we are going to discuss the Morning Glory, Common Morning Glory (lpomoea spp.). For the cost of a seed package, you will enjoy a flowering vine all summer long. Morning glories are native to Central America and Mexico. The morning glory vine has heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers, which open with the morning sun and close in the afternoon.
Morning glories bloom from early summer to the first frost in the fall. Mine are purple, but they come in pink, red, blue, magenta, or white colors. They are skilled climbers so give them something to climb upon; i.e., trellis, archway, fence, lattice, pergola or even strings.
They are drought-tolerant plants and grow quickly. They easily self-seed so choose your spot carefully for the following growing season. If you don’t want the plant to reseed, pinch off old flowers before they turn into seeds.
This eye-catching vine is low maintenance. Do water if your area is going through a dry period. You don't need to prune the plant or deadhead the flowers unless you want to. Morning glories are easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Simply sow seeds as early as possible after the danger of frost is over. To help germination, I recommend filing down the seeds to break the outer coat and soaking them in water 24-hours before planting. You can start the seeds indoors, but I wait until the frost has passed and sow them directly outdoors.
Cover them lightly with ¼” of soil. Water thoroughly at planting time. If you give them a little mulch, it will help keep in the moisture and cut down on unwanted weeds. Within 1-3 weeks the seedlings will start to appear.
If they aren’t blooming much, give them a low-nitrogen fertilizer that is high in phosphorous every 4-5 weeks throughout their growing period. However, don’t over-fertilize or you’ll get more foliage than flowers.
Morning glories are generally resistant to pests, but you may occasionally encounter aphids or spider mites. Insecticidal soap or Neem oil can be effective for pest removal. Also, you may find deer or bunnies nibbling on the lower leaves. Hey, everyone has to eat! On a positive note, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators love this plant.
Smarty Plants Fun Facts
Morning glory is in the Convolvulaceae Family
Soil moist, but well-drained
Soil neutral, acidic - pH of 6.0 to 6.8
Full sun, 8-hours
Blooms Summer-Fall
Can grow 6-12’ tall
Blue star close up view.
The More You Grow
Morning glory seeds are poisonous in large quantities so keep them away from children and pets.
The common morning glory is in the same botanical family as sweet potatoes,
The annual morning glory is often confused with its perennial cousin, field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). Field bindweed is an invasive weed native to Asia and Europe. They grow 9’ deep roots that are very difficult to eradicate. Field bindweed leaves are smaller than morning glory leaves and shaped like arrowheads. Field bindweed flowers are also smaller and come in white and pink. Make sure you are planting morning glories and not field bindweed!
There are many types of morning glories available online or at your local garden center. 'Heavenly Blue' is a popular cultivar with large blue flowers. 'Star of Yelta' has deep purple blooms with dark red stars and small white throats. 'Kniola's Black' has an even darker purple flower. For a splash of a variety of colors, try Burpee’s Zeeland Hybrid Mixed Colors Morning Glory Flower Seeds. Morning Glory Seeds, Split Second are shell pink with double flowers. ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ has red flowers with a white throat and these can grow up to 15’ tall.
SYMBOLISM/MYTHS/FOLKLORE
With morning glory’s fleeting flowers (they only last one day), this has become the core around symbolic meanings. The quickly fading flower represents the shortness of life. Beauty is fleeting, time is fleeting so remember to embrace and appreciate each new day. However, each new morning, the plant produces new blossoms, which symbolizes renewal and new beginnings. It starts the day with new flowers seemingly open to newfound hope and daily rebirth.
The way the vines diligently climb upward shows us the strength to grow and overcome any obstacle life tosses in our way.
During the Victorian era, it symbolized affection and unrequited love. The Aztecs used morning glory seeds in sacred psychoactive rituals. In China, morning glory is known as “Ya Zhi” or “Qian Niu Hua,” It is used there for medicinal uses and is a symbol of marital bliss. In Japan, the plant is called, “Asagao,” which means morning face (better than morning breathe!). Originally it was used as a medicinal plant, but now ornamental. It represents love. good luck, and protection.
Morning glories have been seen in artwork, in poetry, and in the written word often associated with fleeting beauty and impermanence. Like the morning glory’s short-lived flower, the themes revolve around fresh starts, new days, shortness of life, or the precious circle of life.
For our September babies (aka, me!), morning glories as well as Asters are September’s birth flowers
In conclusion, the common morning glory is a glorious (I had to go there!) plant that will make for an excellent addition to your garden. If you love purple and blue flowers and need a climbing vine to fill up a barren spot, give this plant a chance. This fast-grower will provide a stunning display of enchanting flowers and lovely foliage throughout the growing season.