Morning glory plants are annual or perennial flowering vines that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They have large, heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers that come in a variety of colors, including white, pink, purple, and blue. The flowers open in the morning and close in the evening, hence their name. Morning glory plants are easy to grow and require minimal care. They can be grown in containers or in the ground, and prefer full sun and well-drained soil.
Planning Your Garden With Morning Glories
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Morning glories are usually annuals, although some varieties may be perennial. |
| USDA Zone | Morning glories are hardy in USDA Zones 3-10. |
| Cold Tolerance | Morning glories can tolerate temperatures down to 32 when grown in sheltered locations. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest for morning glories is 60 days. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown morning glory plant is between 3 and 6 feet tall. |
| Spacing requirements | Morning glories prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They should be planted in rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. |
| Sun tolerance | Morning glories are generally very tolerant of full sun, but may benefit from a little afternoon shade in very hot climates. |
| Shade tolerance | Morning glories are considered to be sun-loving plants and do best in full sun. They can tolerate some light shade, but they will not flower as heavily in shadier locations. |
| Water requirements | Morning glories require well-draining soil that is kept consistently moist. Water the plants when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During hot weather, the plants may need to be watered twice a day. Avoid overwatering, as this can cause root rot. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing morning glories depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is recommended. Apply 1/2 cup of fertilizer per 10 square feet of soil and mix it into the top 6 inches of soil. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing morning glories is 6.0-7.0. |
Why Morning Glories are Popular
People like to grow morning glories for a variety of reasons. They are easy to grow, they have beautiful flowers, they can attract hummingbirds and butterflies, they are great for covering trellises and arbors, and they can provide a great source of cut flowers.
Companion Plants For Morning Glories
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for morning glories include:
Common Pests For Morning Glories
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow morning glories, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- slugs
- aphids
- caterpillars
- whiteflies
- spider mites
- mealybugs
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
