Morning glory (Ipomoea mauritiana)
Ipomoea mauritiana, a vigorous Morning glory vine, offers showy pink blooms and rapid coverage. Ideal for warm climates.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Ipomoea mauritiana, commonly known as tropical morning glory, is a vigorous, twining, and tuberous-rooted vine valued for its rapid growth and striking seasonal blooms. This tender perennial thrives in warm conditions, making it a spectacular choice where it can be grown as an annual or in tropical settings. Its dramatic funnel-shaped flowers add rich color against dense foliage.
While native across diverse regions of Asia and the Pacific Islands, this specific morning glory is now distributed pantropically. Gardeners appreciate Ipomoea mauritiana for its ability to quickly cover fences, trellises, and other supports with its lush, palmately divided leaves. Grown for one season, it provides substantial ornamental coverage before the frost sets in.
The plant requires ample warmth and sunlight to achieve its potential height. Its low maintenance profile once established, combined with its rapid ascent in summer heat, makes the tropical morning glory an excellent choice for gardeners needing quick vertical interest. Ensuring proper support is crucial for this ambitious twining vine.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Convolvulaceae
- Plant Type: Vine
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-12
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 10-15 ft
- Spread: 2-4 ft
- Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
- Bloom Description: Pink to reddish-pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
This tender perennial vine, Ipomoea mauritiana, should be started indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before your area’s last spring frost date if you intend to grow it as an annual. For improved germination rates, gently scarify the seed coat by nicking it with a knife prior to planting. While direct outdoor seeding is possible after the last frost, bloom onset will often be delayed until late summer.
Transplant young starts outdoors one to two weeks after the danger of frost has passed. When planting, ensure the location provides abundant support, such as a sturdy trellis or fence, as this vine needs structure to twine upon. Ipomoea mauritiana thrives in moist, well-drained soils under full sun conditions. Growth is exceptionally rapid once the plant settles in.
Water needs are moderate; consistent moisture is required, especially during establishment and peak summer growth, but good drainage prevents root issues. Few active cultural inputs are needed aside from managing its vertical reach. At the end of the growing season, seeds can be harvested, but only fully ripened seeds should be collected for storage or future planting.
Gardeners in mild climates (Zones 10-12) can treat this as a landscape perennial. Where overwintering container plants indoors is an option, it can be done with difficulty, though most tropical morning glory enthusiasts simply restart the plant from seed each spring for optimal vigor.
Landscape Uses
The vigorous climbing habit of the tropical morning glory makes it perfectly suited for softening harsh architectural lines or covering extensive supports quickly. Use it to create a living screen on fences or decks, providing instant privacy and shade during the hot months. It is also highly effective when grown in large containers or hanging baskets, allowing its dramatic foliage and blooms to cascade down structure edges.
When planning your summer garden, integrate Ipomoea mauritiana where you need rapid vertical accents. Because it demands high light, pair it with heat-loving, lower-growing annuals in containers, such as zinnias or petunias, that won’t compete aggressively for root space but will provide ground cover. Its rapid coverage ensures that bare spots disappear quickly.
Ensure that any structure provided is robust enough to handle the growth potential of this vine, as tropical varieties can become extremely long in suitable climates. The bright pink to reddish-pink flowers offer exceptional contrast against deep greens, making it a focal point near patios or seating areas where its beauty can be fully appreciated.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ipomoea mauritiana, commonly known as morning glory, is a vigorous, twining, tuberous-rooted, tender perennial vine that may be grown in St. Louis as a warm weather annual. It is noted for its funnel-shaped pink to reddish purple flowers (to 2” across) with darker throats which bloom in axillary or terminal cymes on stems clad with circular leaves (to 6-8”) that are palmately divided into 5-7 acuminate, elliptic to lance-shaped segments. Vines can grow to 30’ long or more in tropical areas, but will typically reach 10-15’ in one year when grown as an annual.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
This morning glory generally exhibits low susceptibility to serious insect or disease issues, which adds to its appeal for gardeners seeking straightforward summer color. Its primary potential issues relate more to cultural care, such as ensuring adequate water during dry spells or providing sufficient support.
If the plant is situated in overly dense shade or overly wet soil, growth may become sparse or its health could decline. Since it enjoys rapid growth, consistent monitoring against powdery mildew or occasional attacks by common pests like aphids is worthwhile, although rarely a significant threat to the overall plant structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Morning glory suitable for?
Ipomoea mauritiana is best suited for USDA Zones 10 through 12 due to its nature as a tender perennial, though it performs excellently as a warm season annual in cooler regions.
How large does Morning glory grow?
When grown in a single season as an annual, expect this vine to reach heights between 10 to 15 feet, with a modest spread of 2 to 4 feet.
What sun exposure does Ipomoea mauritiana need?
This tropical beauty requires full sun exposure to maximize its growth rate and flower production throughout the season.
When does Ipomoea mauritiana bloom?
This morning glory variety is a seasonal bloomer, typically producing its attractive pink to reddish-pink flowers throughout the warmest months.
Conclusion
The tropical morning glory, Ipomoea mauritiana, provides gardeners with an energetic, low-maintenance option for achieving immediate, vibrant vertical coverage. Its rapid growth and showy pink blooms ensure a spectacular summer display. Before planting, confirm your local hardiness zone or plan accordingly for indoor seed starting to enjoy this vigorous vine next spring.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate companions for Ipomoea mauritiana centers on matching its high-sun and medium-water requirements. Since this morning glory grows quickly and aggressively, it performs best when planted alongside shorter annuals that do not compete heavily for limited root space near the base of its support structure. Good partners include low-growing, sun-loving bedding plants such as portulaca or vinca, which appreciate the similar thermal needs of the vine.
If using the vine in containers, pair it with trailing plants that drape over the edges, enhancing the visual effect of the structure. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas varieties) offers attractive foliage contrast without competing vertically, as they naturally trail rather than climb aggressively. This pairing keeps the focus on the vertical achievement of the Ipomoea mauritiana.
Avoid planting very slow-growing perennials near the base of a newly established tropical morning glory. The vine’s rapid seasonal growth can easily overwhelm smaller, slower developing neighbors before they have a chance to establish their own presence in the garden bed.
Propagation Tips
The most reliable method for ensuring success with Ipomoea mauritiana outside of its native tropical range is propagation by seed. Start seeds indoors about eight weeks prior to the last expected frost, allowing the plant a long container residency to build strength before planting out. As noted, notching the tough seed coat is a crucial step for achieving high rates of germination, which might otherwise be poor.
While the plant is technically a tuberous-rooted perennial, relying on root division or overwintering the entire vine is significantly more difficult and risky than simply collecting seeds in the fall. Only harvest seeds that have completely dried and darkened on the vine, ensuring they have reached full maturity for viability.
Once strong seedlings are formed, hardening them off properly before transplanting is essential for plants destined to be grown as annuals. Sudden exposure to intense outdoor sun and wind can shock young morning glories, hindering the rapid summer growth phase they are known for.
