Morning Glory: A Flowering Vine for Fences and Balconies

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Morning glory is an annual vine that covers a fence, pergola or balcony trellis in a few weeks and, from midsummer, opens dozens of trumpet flowers every morning. It grows fast, needs little care and can be sown straight into the ground. Here are the most beautiful types, how to prepare the seed and why the vine sometimes produces leaves instead of flowers.

Popular morning glory species

Ipomoea is a genus of the bindweed family. The most commonly grown are:

• Common morning glory (I. purpurea) — the toughest, in purple, pink, white and striped.
• Mexican morning glory (I. tricolor) — 'Heavenly Blue' with large sky-blue flowers.
• Cypress vine (I. quamoclit) — feathery leaves and small red stars.
• Moonflower (I. alba) — large white flowers that open and scent the evening.
• Ornamental sweet potato (I. batatas) — grown for lime or purple foliage in baskets and window boxes.

Preparing and sowing seed

1. The seeds have a hard coat: soak them in warm water for a day or nick them lightly with a nail file.
2. In May, once the soil is warm, sow 2–3 seeds per station, 1–2 cm deep, where they are to grow.
3. For earlier flowers, start seedlings in April in individual pots — morning glories resent root disturbance.

Support, watering and care

• Support — netting, string or a trellis 1.5–3 m tall, put in place at sowing.
• Position — sunny and sheltered from wind.
• Watering — regular, especially in heat and in containers.
• Soil — only moderately fertile; too much nitrogen means leaves and late flowers.

Each flower lasts a day, opening in the morning and closing after noon, but new ones appear daily until frost.

View full-size photoMorning glory quickly covers supports and blooms profusely from midsummer.

Why it will not flower and is it safe

• Lots of leaves, few flowers — too much nitrogen or very rich soil.
• Late sowing or a cool summer — no time to flower.
• Shade — few flowers, or they fail to open.
• Spider mites — on hot balconies.

Morning glory seeds, especially of I. tricolor, contain alkaloids and are dangerous if swallowed — keep them away from children and pets. For vertical and balcony ideas see trailing plants and balcony flowers; the full A–Z is in types of flowers.

FAQ

When should I sow morning glory?

In May directly outdoors once the soil warms, or in April in individual pots.

Can I grow morning glory on a balcony?

Yes, in boxes or pots of 5 litres or more with a trellis or strings.

Why do the flowers close during the day?

Each flower lives one day, opening in the morning and closing after noon.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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