Tips On Growing Morning Glories

I have a few tips on growing morning glories, which is my favorite annual vine to plant.

I’ve been growing morning glories and moon flowers for years. And every year they seem to be more lovely than the previous year.

Morning glories symbolize affection, love, and the beauty of the dawn. They are also associated with a sense of hope and fresh beginnings.

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for morning glories. However, I will always associate them with breaking my ankle all those years ago.

I was in such a hurry to capture the blooms with my camera that day that I stumbled and fell. But that’s an old story.

Today is about new and future stories.

Are Morning Glories Annuals Or Perennials?

This popular vine can be grown as perennials or annuals depending on your zone and planting conditions.

Morning glories are technically perennials. In Zones 9-11 they return year after year if it doesn’t dip below 45 degrees. However, morning glories are sensitive to cool temperatures and late frosts.

It would be wise to check when the last frost usually occurs in your area. You can go to The Old Farmer’s Almanac enter your ZIP code. It will give you the estimated first and last frost dates for your area.

In Zones 2-8 they are grown as annuals and must be planted each year. In my neck of the woods morning glories are grown as annuals.

Where To Grow Morning Glories:

This beautiful flowering vine will grow around narrow poles or trellises.

Last summer I planted my seeds in a galvanized container near a light pole, and the vines quickly climbed up around it.

Each day it looked like they’d twined another foot up the pole. Once morning glories germinate they grow rapidly.

My Best Tips For Growing Morning Glories:

The morning glory seeds have a hard outer coat. Consequently, I always nick my seeds and soak them in a bowl of water overnight.

Plant them in an area that has at least 6 hours of sun each day. But they do like a bit of afternoon shade.

Morning glories will grow most anywhere, but they bloom best in soil that is rich in organic matter.

I’ve planted morning glory seeds in a range of pretty colors like pink, purple, blue, and white.

Moon Flowers & Morning Glories:

I also grow moon flowers almost every year. But I don’t have the seeds just yet. I’ll probably order them online.

Moon flowers and morning glories are in the same general family of twining plants with bell-shaped flowers.

The difference between morning glories and moon flowers is that moon flowers open in the evening. Morning glories, just as the name suggests, bloom in the morning.

The moon flower’s flowers are very large, and the vines take a lot longer to reach the bloom stage.

If you plant morning glories you will be supporting the local ecosystem. And you will have beautiful flowers to enjoy.

Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies are pollinators that are attracted to morning glories. They enjoy the flowers’ color and nectar from early summer to frost.