Did you know? The lovely Blue Dawn Flower (Ipomoea indica), also known as Ipomea learii, a South American perennial morning glory may produce 60,000 flowers at the rate of 300 per day.

The Morning-Glory, in the family Convolvulaceae, contains at least 50 genera and more than 1000 species. Morning-Glory flowers are one of the best flowers to decorate our fences and walls.

As the name goes, morning glory flowers are vines, which are saucer-shaped, opening at morning time.

Kingdom

Plantae

Division

Magnoliophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Solanales

Family

Convolvulaceae

Genus

Ipomoea

Species of morning glories are native of tropical America. Morning Glories are also present in Asia although they also grow in subtropical and temperate regions.

Morning glory is the common name for a number of species of flowering plants in the family the Convolvulaceae, belonging to the following genera: Calystegia, Convolvulus, Ipomoea, Merremia and Rivea.

Morning glories belong to a different genera with slightly different floral, fruit and leaf characteristics but all Morning Glories produce typical funnel-shaped blossoms in white, red, blue, purple and yellow.

The Morning Glory flowers often show marks where the corolla is neatly folded or rolled up in the bud. The Morning glory flowers start to fade 2 hours before the petals start showing a visible curling.

Morning Glories prefer a full sun throughout the day. Morning Glory flowers can be as much as 8 inches across although most are around 4 inches.

Facts about Morning Glory

• Morning glory vines reach a height of 10 feet or more.
• Morning Glories have lush green foliage.
• Some Morning glories are excellent seed voyagers.
• Morning glory leaves are heart-shaped, 4 – 5 inches long.
• In many species the morning glory seeds contain d-lysergic acid amide, ergoline alkaloids better known as LSA, which are poisonous in nature.
• Morning glories produce round seed pods in clusters hanging from their vines.
• When the Morning glory seeds mature the pods turn papery brown and become hard.
• The mature Morning glory seeds are dark-brown to matte-black and wedge shaped.
• The Morning glory seeds are sized between 1/8" and 1/4" long.

Growing a Morning Glory

Before sowing the seed, nick the morning glory seed with a file to help it absorb water and germinate more quickly, or soak overnight in tepid water to soften their coats.

• Morning Glory should be planted in full sun.
• Soil for the Morning Glory plant should not be too fertile or moist.
• Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep, 8 to 12 inches apart, and give a support of twine.
• Give 3-inch peat pots four to six weeks before the last frost is due.
• Morning Glories do not survive transplanting.

Caring for Morning Glories

• Give a good support system to the upcoming vine.
• Morning glories are favorites of sun, so do not overwater them.
• Morning glories are excellent reseeders so once you plant them, there is no need to replant them.
• To reduce their reseeding capability remove all the dead vines after they are killed by frost.

The Moonflower (Ipomea alba) is a popular fragrant variety of morning glories which opens in the evening with a sweet fragrance and lasts through the night until touched by the morning sun. The Moon flower is really the best choice for anyone who loves evening gardening.

Also have a look at some other Flowers