What's in a name?
When it comes to plants, the name can be a deal-maker or deal-breaker. One example is morning glory. For some, the name conjures up nightmares of twisting vines that strangle your flowers; for others, the name brings visions of delightful, wonderful flowers.
The nightmare commonly known as morning glory is correctly called field bindweed. This deep-rooted, noxious weed is unwelcome in any garden. Its Latin name is Convolvulus arvensis, and it comes from the Convolvulaceae family.
The delightful flowers of the common name come from the same family, but their branch is neither noxious nor obnoxious. They are genus Ipomoea, which includes true morning glory vines, sweet potatoes and a host of other ornamental plants.
This genus has more than 500 species that originated in warm, tropical areas. In these areas, these plants can become invasive and are sometimes considered weeds. However, they are tender plants, so the frost keeps them from becoming a problem in our area.
True morning glory is a fast-growing vine that covers itself with abundant flowers that greet the sun each morning as it peaks over the mountain. As the sun sets, each flower closes, never to open again.
Fortunately the robust growth produces many flowers on vines that reach 10 feet or more. Because of the prolific growth, the plant makes a great screen and is one of the most vigorous annual vines available. Plant the seeds to fit your trellis or if planting along a fence, put the plants about 10 inches apart.
Unlike other vines, these climb by twining, so they do not attach themselves to walls or fences. They will happily climb a trellis or twine (wrapping themselves around the structure in a clockwise direction), but if they are unsupported, they never flourish.
Growing morning glory is not difficult. The tricky part is to get the seeds established. The root system is sensitive, so most gardeners start them directly in the soil.
To make the seeds germinate more easily, soak them in warm water for 24 hours before you plant them. Another trick is to nick the seed coat with a small file. This allows the seed to imbibe water more easily so they germinate faster.
They are not too fussy about soil as long as the drainage is good. If you have heavy clay, add coarse organic matter to the soil to improve drainage. They do not need extra fertilizer at planting because excess nitrogen fertilizer produces lots of green vine but few flowers. As the plants start to bloom, a good complete fertilizer will keep them in shape.
Several popular garden species are sold locally, and specialty cultivars are available from catalogs, but some are listed under the generic common name. Plant breeders and the plant mutations have introduced several new types to go with the old fashioned ones still available.
Popular types of Ipomoea tricolor include the showy Heavenly Blue flowers. Additional cultivars that have a blue or variegated flower include Flying Saucers and Blue Star.
If you prefer maroon to violet shade, Scarlet O'Hara, Scarlet Star and Scarlet Climber are good choices. Fortunately there are many other types, including Pearly Gates, a white mutation of Heavenly Blue, and the popular Star of Yelta, also known as President Tyler or Grandpa Ott.
For a different morning glory choice, try Ipomoea alba, or moonflower vines, which feature large, trumpet-shaped flowers that grow up to 6 inches across.
Plant these plants close by as you'll never tire of watching the spirally folded buds unfurl before your eyes just as dusk falls. As an added bonus, you'll get to smell the wonderful perfume that permeates the air from this great flower.
Larry A. Sagers is the horticulture specialist, Utah State University Extension at Thanksgiving Point.