Loading…
🔍 Click to enlargevineannual
Morning Glory
Ipomoea purpurea
Fast-growing annual vine with brilliant trumpet-shaped blooms. Opens at dawn, closes by afternoon.
Quick Facts
Sun:☀️ Full Sun
Water:💧💧 Moderate
USDA Zones:Zones 3–11
Space:🌱 Small Bed, 🏡 Large Garden
Soil:Loam, Sandy, Silty
Best Season(s):Spring, Summer
Experience Level:🌱 Beginner
Native Range:Mexico & Central America
Bloom Color:Purple, blue, pink, white — trumpet-shaped, opens at dawn
Bloom Cycle:Summer through frost
Care Notes
Soak seeds overnight before planting. Direct sow after last frost. Provide a trellis or fence to climb.
Growing Details
Mature Size:8-12 ft climbing vine per season
Growth Rate:🐇 Fast
Zone Performance
In zone 3, morning glory must be direct-sown after soil has warmed since the short season leaves no time for transplant shock recovery. In zones 10-11 it can self-sow aggressively and behave as a weedy perennial, so spent vines should be cleared before seed pods mature to prevent unwanted spread.
Companions & Wildlife
🦌 Deer Resistance
occasionally damaged
Deer usually leave morning glory alone due to mildly toxic seeds and foliage, but hungry deer may nibble young seedlings.
🐝 Pollinator Value
high
Attracts bumblebees and other native bees in the early morning hours when flowers are freshly open, plus occasional hummingbird visits.
Good Companions
Corn — Sturdy corn stalks give fast-climbing morning glory a living trellis, echoing the Three Sisters planting tradition.
Sunflower — Tall sunflower stems provide vertical support and the two bloom colors complement each other in a cottage-style bed.
Zinnia — Zinnias fill the ground layer with color while morning glory climbs above, maximizing a small bed's vertical space.
Moonflower — Moonflower opens at dusk as morning glory closes, giving the same trellis round-the-clock bloom coverage.
Troubleshooting
⚠️ Slow or no germination
Nick the hard seed coat with a file or soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing.
⚠️ Japanese beetles skeletonizing leaves
Hand-pick beetles in early morning or use row cover until bloom time when pollinator access is needed.
⚠️ Vine dominating and shading neighboring plants
Pinch growing tips regularly to control spread and direct growth onto its intended support.
⚠️ Pet Safety
Seeds are toxic to cats and dogs (LSA-related alkaloids) — can cause GI upset and, in quantity, neurological effects.
Informational only — always check with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn't have.