Growing Morning Glory from Seed

Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor) grows quickly from a single seed into a climbing vine of two to three metres, with trumpet shaped flowers that open in the morning. This guide walks you through soaking the seeds, sowing, training the vine, flowering and harvesting your own seeds at the end of the season. Want to start right away? Order the Morning Glory seeds (Ipomoea tricolor, Heavenly Blue) or browse the full exotic seeds range.

Morning Glory, a short botanical introduction

Ipomoea tricolor belongs to the bindweed family (Convolvulaceae) and is native to Mexico and Central America. In a temperate climate it grows as an annual climber, in the tropics it is perennial. The plant has large heart shaped leaves and forms a dense green wall within a single season.

Step 1, soaking the seeds

Morning Glory has a hard seed coat. Soak the seeds for 12 to 24 hours in lukewarm water before sowing. Seeds that swell up are ready to germinate. Seeds that are still small and hard after a day can be lightly scratched with sandpaper and soaked for a few more hours. Soaking speeds up germination and raises the number of seeds that actually sprout.

Step 2, sowing

Sow the soaked seeds in an airy, sterile seed mix at a depth of about one centimetre. The ideal germination temperature is around 20°C. At that temperature the seeds usually germinate within a week. Start indoors about four to six weeks before the last expected frost. If you prefer to sow directly outdoors, wait until the risk of night frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Keep the seed mix moist but not soaking wet.

Step 3, training and care

Morning Glory is a true climber and needs support. Place the plant near a fence, trellis or lattice where the tendrils can wind around it. Choose a sunny spot, because the plant flowers most freely in full sun. Water regularly, especially in summer, and keep the soil evenly moist. The vines grow fast and reach two to three metres in length. A spot where the plant can climb freely without smothering other plants works best.

Step 4, flowering

The first trumpet shaped flowers often appear as early as six weeks after germination. In Western Europe the flowering period runs roughly from July to October. The flowers open in the morning and close again later in the day, which is where the name Morning Glory comes from. Depending on the variety they are blue, purple, pink or white. The well known Heavenly Blue cultivar produces bright blue flowers with a pale throat.

Step 5, harvesting seeds

Once a flower has finished blooming and drops off, a round seed pod forms in its place. Let the pod ripen on the plant. Do not harvest too early, because the seeds will still be white and immature. Wait until the pods are dry and brown and the seeds have turned dark brown to black. Cut off the ripe pods, remove the seeds and store them dry and dark. That gives you your own seed stock for next season.

Good to know

The seeds of Ipomoea tricolor naturally contain LSA. Avalon Magic Plants sells Morning Glory as a botanical product, meant for growing and as an ornamental plant, intended for people aged 18 and over. For a related climber whose seeds carry a higher LSA content, take a look at the Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds. You will find more background on our seeds and growing products on the Avalon blog.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to soak Morning Glory seeds before sowing?

Yes. Soak the seeds for 12 to 24 hours in lukewarm water. This softens the hard seed coat so the seeds germinate faster and more evenly.

How long does Morning Glory take to germinate?

At a soil temperature around 20°C, soaked seeds usually germinate within a week.

How tall does Morning Glory grow?

In a single season the plant usually reaches two to three metres, provided it has enough support and sun.

When does Morning Glory flower?

In Western Europe the flowering period runs roughly from July to October. The first flowers often appear about six weeks after germination.

Is Morning Glory annual or perennial?

In a temperate climate Morning Glory is annual. In tropical regions it grows as a perennial climber.

How do you harvest Morning Glory seeds yourself?

Let the seed pods dry on the plant until they are brown. Only harvest once the seeds are dark brown to black, because seeds picked too early are white and immature.