Family: Convolvulaceae
Common name: Blue morning glory, Picotee morning glory, Ivy morning glory, White edge morning glory, Ivy-leaf morning glory, Japanese morning glory
Blue Morning Glory is an eye-catchingly beautiful climber that can climb on fences or trellises producing blue or pink flowers in abundance. They grow well in tropical weather and are seen in many parts of the world because of their beauty and ease of cultivation.
Plant Characteristics
Blue morning glory plants can grow up to 5 meters high with long, slender, green stems that climb on fences, trellises, stakes, or other supporting structures. The stems are mostly green with a reddish tint.
Leaves of the Blue morning glories are heart-shaped, lobed, or elongated depending on the cultivar. They are bright, glossy green, about 5-10 cm long with a smooth margin.
Like most morning glories, the flowers are the crowing glory of the plant – beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers in blue, purple, or pink colors with white shading at the center or on the edges.
Flowers have tender, paper-tissue-like petals, with clear origami folds that are typical of the morning glory family.
Blue morning glory flowers are 5-6 cm in diameter, blooming in plenty during spring and summer. These flowers are short-lived, opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon, giving the plant its name Morning Glory.
The flower colors and shades can vary depending on the hybrid and the growing conditions.
These plants produce small, capsule-like fruits that contain black, pear-shaped seeds. The fruits are about 1 cm in diameter and is often eaten by birds and other small animals.
These seeds can remain in the soil for many months until favorable conditions arise for them to germinate and grow.
Gardening Tips
Though many species of Ipomoea or Morning Glory plants are considered as invasive weeds, they are loved by gardeners for their fast-growing nature, beautiful foliage, and bright, enchanting flowers.
The genus called Ipomoea has over 500 species of plants distributed all over the world, characterized by their climbing nature, and abundant flowers. They prefer good sunlight, but can grow in the partial shade of large there, where they get filtered sunlight.
Soil should be well-drained for the plants to grow since their roots are shallow and prone to rotting. Watering should be done regularly, especially when they are grown in pots or containers.
Since the Blue Morning Glory roots are shallow, they need sufficient moisture in the soil to grow well.
Fertilization can be done regularly in spring and summer, but not during the winter months when the plants grow slowly or become dormant. Pruning can help remove spent flowers or damaged branches. And also to prevent the plant from climbing on the surrounding vegetation.
It is important to remember that these plants are vigorous climbers that need supporting structures like fences, trellises, pergolas, or stakes to climb quickly and produce flowers. If left to grow on the ground, the stems can become lanky and the plant will not bloom well.
Blue Morning Glories are very closely related to Ipomoea cairica or Coastal morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea or Common morning glory, Ipomoea hederifolia or Scarlet morning glory, and many other similar species.
Some of the common cultivars are Diamond pink, Scarlet O’hara, Rose silk, Sunrise serenade, and so on.
Uses of Blue Morning Glory
In addition to being an excellent ornamental plant, Blue Morning Glories have been used in traditional herbal medicine to treat inflammations, stomach disorders, mental illnesses, worms, and urinary infections.
Since these plants grow very quickly, they can be used as natural screens to give privacy and protection for spaces in the garden. If allowed to climb on screens, they can cover large areas with their thick leaves and beautiful flowers.
Morning glory plants can transform your garden and give it a tropical vibe with their brightly colored flowers. Imagine how beautiful your fence will look with multi-colored flowers in pink, purple, magenta, white, red, and variety of hues.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds or stem cuttings.
The capsules on parent plants turn brown in maturity, after which they can be collected. The seeds should germinate in 8-10 days when sown in moist soil. Stem cuttings taken from healthy plants can take roots in water or moist soil very quickly and effectively.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
