Morning Glory vine
If you need to cover a trellis or fence in a short amount of time consider planting annual vines. They provide a vertical interest to a garden, add privacy and shade, block the wind, and camouflage any unsightly view. Annual flowering vines tend to grow vigorously and continue to bloom until frost kills them.
Although morning glory vine is usually grown as an annual, it will grow as a perennial in zones 10-11.
Morning glory vine (Ipomoea tricolor) is a fast growing tender vine that can easily climb a trellis or fence by twining itself around the support. The funnel-like flowers open in the morning (hence the name morning glory) and last for one day.
Plant in any type of soil but it grows better in poor well-drained soil and blooms best in full sun to light shade. Plant seeds 1/2″ deep and space 6-12 inches apart. Keep the soil moderately moist to dry.
Sow directly into the ground after the soil warms up. Before planting, scrape the black seed coat with sandpaper and soak in water overnight to allow better germination. The vine can also be started from seeds indoors in peat pots 4-5 weeks before the last frost date.
Once established Morning glory can self-seed and spread becoming a weedy plant, smothering plants and difficult to control in the flowerbed. To avoid this problem be sure to remove the seed pods. Grow it in a container or adjacent to a sidewalk were it can be managed. The large flowered cultivars tend to reseed less. Morning glories can be used to attract beneficial ladybugs into your garden.
Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) has large flowers in shades of red, white and blue. “Heavenly Blue” cultivar of (Ipomoea tricolor) is a popular blue color.
A compact series with variegated foliage ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Mini Bar Rose’ can be grown in baskets and containers.
Another vine worth mentioning is Moon Vine (Ipomoea alba) which produces heart-shaped-leaves and large fragrant white flowers. Because the flowers open from dusk to dawn, this vine can be enjoyed in the evening garden, by the light of the silvery moon.
*Morning glory seeds are considered poisonous and should not be ingested.