Morning Glory, Grannyvine
Ipomoea tricolor

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

Bloom Color: Blue. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early fall, Late summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.

Ipomoea tricolor is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 5 m (16ft 5in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 5

Where it is found

Scrub and waste places.

Southern N. America - Mexico to the West Indies and tropical America.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 1

The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD. This has been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders.

Hallucinogenic: Causes the mind to hallucinate.

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Landscape Uses:Container, Specimen. Requires a rich well-drained soil in a warm sunny position. A tender and short-lived perennial plant, it can survive the winter when grown against a sunny but sheltered south-facing wall though it is best treated as an annual. A climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around the branches of other plants. There are many named forms selected for their ornamental value. Special Features: Attractive foliage, North American native.

Propagating it: Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of side shoots in a peaty soil. Layering.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Habit: Perennial Climber

Hardiness: 10-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

I. rubrocaerulea. Pharbitis rubrocaerulea. P. tricolor.