Morning Glories for Descanso Gardens

Morning Glories (Ipomoea) are a climbing annual, which is mostly grown on fences or arbors. Our milder winters don't kill them. The colorful blooms appear every morning all summer long. They are showy in cottage or old-fashioned gardens, and do a lovely job of hiding wire fences. They do reseed and can be invasive. Morning Glories attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Seeds are poisonous.

Convolvulus is a close relative of Ipomoea and in the same family. It can be treated the same as other morning glories.

• CULTIVATION:
  • Location: Plant in full sun.
  • Soil: They do well in any soil as long as it is well drained.
  • Water: Water freely while plants are in growth.
  • Pruning: Deadhead regularly to prevent reseeding.
  • End of season care: Remove dried and spent stems and foliage.
• PROPAGATION: Broadcast seed where the plant is to grow in mid-spring. Soaking or nicking the seeds assists germination. They also transplant easily from home-grown or purchased four-inch plants and reseed naturally.
• PROBLEMS: Squirrels may eat the flower buds before the gardener sees them!
• TRY THESE SPECIES:
  • Moonflower (Ipomoea alba). This one has large, white, fragrant blooms on a twenty-foot vine. It is more tender than other species, and seldom returns on its own.
  • Morning Glory Heavenly Blue (Ipomoea tricolor). This is the most frequently grown species and often survives into the next year.
  • Morning Glory Grandpa Ott's (Ipomoea purpurea). Deep royal purple blooms with a pink throat and velvety blooms will make this your favorite!
• SOURCES: Local nurseries and mail order sources.

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