Morning Glory--another man’s noxious weed

Bandera Soil & Water Cons

The lowly, yet lovely, morning glory – aka as moonflower, ivyleaf, woolly morning-glory and Ipomoea hederacea – proves there’s two sides to every plant. This huge genus of plants boasts 600 to 700 species, both annuals and perennials. Native to most tropical and warm temperate regions, the flowers of most varieties tend to open at night or in diffuse or early light – hence the name. The habitat of the morning glory runs the gamut from waste ground, disturbed sites and cultivated areas to thickets, roadsides and woodland borders and even railroads – essentially everywhere. Morning glory presents as a trailing pr twinning vine flowering from July to September. The funnel-shaped blossoms, almost two inches wide, usually range in color from light to medium blue; however, purple, magenta and white blooms have also been reported. Alas, though, the flowers last a day before wilting. Morning glory attracts bees, butterflies and birds. The leaves vary greatly, presenting with three deep lobes, five lobes and even as heart-shaped. Morning glory leaves and stems tend to hairiness. The vines range from three to six feet in length and may reach a maximum of eight feet. Now comes the spoiler. Although morning glories are beautiful, they can be a bothersome weed. The vine is very difficult to control because the seeds germinate in depths as shallow as eight inches. Additionally, this resilient, fast-growing vine may dominate the essential substrate, nutrients and sunlight of other plants with a ruthlessness unknown to gentle gardeners. Additionally, this attractive vine can be tough to get rid of once established. And, as if to add insult to injury, the plant’s seeds are poisonous and can cause hallucinations or death. It’s advised not to munch on any part of the flowering vine. Instead, stick to consuming other members of its family such as the sweet potato or yam. That being said, many consider morning glory a lovely ornamental addition to their gardens. One enthusiast waxed, “Charming morning glory offers pretty baby-blue flowers and attractive foliage. We grow it up the split-rail fence that encloses our patio.” Ah, where is Thomas Kinkade when you need him? This just proves behind every lovely trailing vine there lurks a potentially noxious weed. To propagate morning glory, sow seeds directly outdoors after last frost. For best results, scarify before sowing. Allow pods to dry on plant then break open to collect seeds – being careful not to eat them.