The meaning of the Greek origin of the name Ipomoea leads us to... worms. That must have been the association between the twining stems of this heavenly vine and the earthly creatures. Fortunately, future cultivars of morning glory do not contain any references to worms, even the most beautiful ones. One of the most attractive cultivars of Ipomoea tricolor is called 'Heavenly Blue'. As a matter of fact, that was the only possible choice to name the exceptionally blue flowers that way. When they open early in the morning and the sky is cloudless, we can understand the reasons why. The sun rays make the morning glory spiral buds untwine and form a blue trumpet with a greenish and white - yellow centre. A few hours later the same sun rays make the trumpets close up and they never reopen. But don't you worry! New buds will unfold the next morning to glorify the break of the day. And every day until the first frost freezes the little skies scattered all over the trellis, hidden among branches and nestled in red climbing roses.
Morning glory has earned its name thanks to a slightly irritating habit of terminating flowering before some of us are ready to get up and admire the blue trumpets. It is a plant for early birds. If you like to sleep long you can always count on cloudy weather to prolong the flowering of Ipomoea until late afternoon, but who wants to leave bed and go out on a rainy day if they do not have to? However, the flowers might be a good excuse and Ipomoea is definitely worth it!
As an annul plant we can propagate morning glory by seeds. Young seedlings hate being transplanted so the best option is to sow the seed directly in the flower bed. Or in a container where they can happily grow provided we support them with bamboo sticks or place the container next to some trellis or simply a bigger upright plant. All annual (and other) vines in order to grow quickly and bloom abundantly need to climb. Deprived of such possibility, they develop weak stems and almost forget to form flowers.
The sky-blue flowers of this morning glory cultivar look great if entwined with other vines, e.g. ornamental beans, sweat peas, common hop, clematis, etc. They add that desired blue shades to predominantly yellow and orange tones of autumnal gardens. The seeds may survive the winter but I would not count on that and make a good supply of fresh and vital seeds just in time to sow them the next spring. Just to feel like heaven when the time comes!
As an annul plant we can propagate morning glory by seeds. Young seedlings hate being transplanted so the best option is to sow the seed directly in the flower bed. Or in a container where they can happily grow provided we support them with bamboo sticks or place the container next to some trellis or simply a bigger upright plant. All annual (and other) vines in order to grow quickly and bloom abundantly need to climb. Deprived of such possibility, they develop weak stems and almost forget to form flowers.
The sky-blue flowers of this morning glory cultivar look great if entwined with other vines, e.g. ornamental beans, sweat peas, common hop, clematis, etc. They add that desired blue shades to predominantly yellow and orange tones of autumnal gardens. The seeds may survive the winter but I would not count on that and make a good supply of fresh and vital seeds just in time to sow them the next spring. Just to feel like heaven when the time comes!
Jarek
RSS Feed