The morning glory is a fast-growing climbing vine whose silky, trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl at dawn and fade by afternoon. In brilliant blues, purples, pinks, and whites, it clothes fences and trellises with color all summer.
Morning Glory at a glance
- Botanical name: Ipomoea
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Bloom season: summer to autumn
- Symbolism: affection and the fleeting nature of life
About the morning glory
Morning glories twine quickly up any support, opening a fresh flush of blooms each morning that close as the day warms. Some, like the moonflower, open at night instead. They grow easily from seed and often self-sow — sometimes a little too enthusiastically. The seeds are toxic if eaten.
Morning Glory meaning and symbolism
The morning glory symbolizes affection, love, and the fleeting nature of life, since each bloom lasts only a single morning. It’s a secondary birth flower for September.
Types of morning glory
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- ‘Heavenly Blue’ (I. tricolor) — the classic sky-blue morning glory
- Common morning glory (I. purpurea) — purple, pink, and white
- Moonflower (I. alba) — large white blooms that open at night
- Cardinal climber — small scarlet flowers, ferny leaves
How to grow and care for morning glory
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Sow seeds directly after the last frost in full sun
- Nick or soak the hard seeds to speed germination
- Give a trellis, fence, or strings to climb
- Grow in average, well-drained soil — rich soil means more leaves than flowers
- Deadhead or contain, as they self-seed freely
Morning Glory FAQs
When do morning glories bloom?
Morning glories bloom from summer into autumn, opening fresh trumpet-shaped flowers each morning that fade by afternoon, with new blooms appearing daily.
Are morning glories invasive?
They can be. Morning glories self-seed readily and grow fast, so in warm climates they may spread more than you want. Deadheading and containing them keeps them in check.
Are morning glory seeds poisonous?
Yes. Morning glory seeds are toxic if eaten, so keep them away from children and pets, and simply enjoy the plant for its flowers.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.