Seeds 10 Seeds (Ipomoea purpurea)

Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) is a beloved ornamental climber that transforms any vertical space into a curtain of colour. Its funnel- or trumpet-shaped flowers, roughly 3-6 cm wide, open fresh in the morning and last only a few hours, giving the garden a new display each day. A fast, twining vine that scrambles 1.8-3 m in a single season, it is ideal for clothing a trellis, fence, arch, or pergola with effortless cottage-garden charm from mid-summer through autumn.

Planting

The seeds have a hard coat, so nick them with a knife or rub with sandpaper, then soak in water for 12-24 hours before sowing. Direct-sow outdoors after the last frost once the soil warms to around 18 C, or start indoors 4-6 weeks earlier. Sow about 1.3 cm deep in full sun (6+ hours daily). Kept moist and warm, seedlings emerge in 7-14 days; thin plants to 20-30 cm apart and provide support to climb.

Fertilizing

Feed once a month through the growing season with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Avoid over-feeding, particularly with nitrogen, since too much encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers.

Care

Grow in average, well-drained soil kept evenly moist but never waterlogged; established vines tolerate some drought. There are no serious pest or disease problems, though spider mites can appear in hot, dry spells, and aphids or whitefly may occur. Note that the seeds are toxic if eaten in quantity and the plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses; it may also self-seed freely in warm climates.