(con-vole’vue-luss, i-po-mo’ee-ah)

Common name: Dwarf Morning Glory, Morning Glory

Family: Convolvulaceae, Morning Glory

Height x width: 12-16" tall x 9-12" wide for Convolvulus, climbing vine for Ipomoea

Growth rate: moderate to fast, Ipomoea 6-20’twining vine

Foliage: entire; Convolvulus:ovate to lance-shaped, dark green, 1-2" long; Ipomoea: alternate, broad cordate to ovate, sometimes lobed, pubescent, 2-6" long

Flowers: solitary, open, funnel-shaped. Convulvulus: red, blue, rose or white, with white throat inside and golden at base; to 2" across. Ipomoea: variously red, purple, pink, white; often with lighter colored tube; to 2" across and 2-3" long; sometimes double.

Hardiness: annual

Soil: tolerates various, prefers well-drained, tolerates poor

Light: full sun

Pests and Problems: poor flowering and excess foliage from excess watering and fertility; occasionally red spider mites

Landscape habit, uses: generally as fast-growing vine (Ipomoea), use many plants since plants do not branch; Convolvulus for fronts of borders, accent

Other interest: Common name from fact flowers mostly open in morning, and close in heat or night; Convolvulus from Latin convolvere meaning to twine, related to root aggressive bindweed; native to Mediterranean. Ipomoea from the Greek words meaning "resembling a worm"; native to tropical regions, area varying with species.

Other culture: see problems above

Propagation: scarified seeds (nicked with a nail file or sandpaper, or soaked overnight in warm water), sow outside or inside 2 weeks before planting out, germinates quickly

Species: of Ipomoea; main selection of Convolvulus seen in commerce is tricolor Ensign series, with ‘Royal Ensign’ (dark blue) most popular

alba (al’bah)--Moonflower; leaves 3-lobed 4-8"; flowers white in cymes of 1-8, opening at dusk

batatas (ba-tah’tas)--Sweet Potato, mainly grown for foliage, either chartreuse (‘Marguarite’) or dark reddish black (‘Blackie’); very popular especially in containers, hanging baskets; generally 2-5’ trailing in temperate climates

coccinea (cox-sin’ee-ah)--Red morning star, Star morning glory; entire to boldly toothed leaves, racemes of 3-8 scarlet flowers under 1" wide in summer, yellow throats; may be listed as Quamoclit coccinea

imperialis: nil

nil (nil)--as for species, mostly light to deep blue lobes, sometimes purple or red, white throat; 6-8’ vines generally; variegated foliage for ‘Blue Silk’, ‘Minibar Rose’

purpurea (pur-pur’ee-ah)--Common Morning Glory; stems slender, hairy, bristly; leaves variously ovate entire to 3-lobed; flowers trumpet-shaped with white tubes, variously colored or striped

quamoclit (quam-o-clit’)--Star Glory; stems hairless and leaves deeply cut (pinnatisect) with 9-19 pairs of lobes; flowers scarlet or occasionally white, in cymes or 2-5, slender tubes, mainly in summer

tricolor (tri’color)--Morning Glory; vine to 10-12’; flowers funnel-shaped, bright blue to purple, white tubes golden in center, single or in cymes of 3-5; variegated leaves for ‘Roman Candy’
 
 
 
 

Cultivars:those marked * are most commonly seen
 

Cultivar	species	flowers
*‘Blackie’	batatas	none, see species
‘Blue Silk’	nil	light blue, picotee edge, white center
‘Cardinal’	tricolor	red
‘Chocolate’	nil	light chocolate brown
‘Crimson Rambler’	purpurea	crimson violet, white throats
‘Early Call’	nil	various mix, white tubes
*’Flying Saucers’	tricolor	blue to purple, white striped
‘Giant White’	alba	white to 6" across
*‘Heavenly Blue’	tricolor	light sky blue
*‘Marguarite’	batatas	none, see species
‘Minibar Rose’	nil	rosy crimson, white throat or variable
*‘Mt. Fuji Mix’	nil	vivid colors, white star center, 4-6"
‘Pearly Gates’	tricolor	white
‘Roman Candy’	tricolor	cherry and white
‘Sapphire Cross’	tricolor	blue, white striped
‘Scarlet O’Hara’	purpurea	scarlet, white throat
‘Scarlet Star’	nil	cherry red, white center star, 4-5’ vine
‘Star of Yelta’	purpurea	silky purple
‘Tie Dye’	nil	purple, white swirls, 4-6"

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