Ipomoea
eye-poe-MEE-ah. Morning glory family, Convolvulaceae.
Ipomoea is a large and diverse genus consisting of about 500 species. The best-known garden plants are climbing annuals and tender perennials - the genus name is from the Greek ips, "worm," and homoios, "resembling" - but the genus also contains nonclimbing annuals and perennials along with a few shrubs and trees. Botanists have classified and reclassified the plants contained here, so several species are still listed under other names. Closely related to Convolvulus species, Ipomoea species bear funnel- or bell-shaped flowers, either singly or in clusters in the leaf axils. Hummingbirds are attracted to the blooms, especially of red-flowered species and cultivars (pictured at right is I. alba p.; see below for explanation).
How To Grow
A site in full sun and average, well-drained, evenly moist soil is ideal. Most require strings, a trellis, or other support upon which to climb. Sow seeds indoors in individual pots 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost date. Germination takes from 1 to 3 weeks at 65° to 70°F. Seedlings need a stake to climb on even when they are still fairly small, otherwise, the vines will become entangled. Transplant a few weeks after the last frost once temperatures remain above 45°F. Or sow outdoors 2 weeks after the last frost date (pictured at left is Cardinal Climber; see below for explanation).
Install the required trellis before outdoor sowing. Either way, to speed germination carefully nick the seedcoats with a knife or file and/or soak the seeds for 24 hours in warm water before sowing. In addition to seeds, perennials can be propagated by cuttings taken in spring or summer, which can be used to overwinter the plants, if desired. Use these plants to climb and cover all manner of structures from deck railings and fences to trellises. They also can be trained over shrubs. Some, including foliage cultivars of I. batatas, are effective clambering among perennials and annuals in mixed plantings or in containers.
I. alba p.
i. AL-bah. Moonflower. Formerly Calonyction aculeatum and I. bona-nox. (pictured above right)
A tender perennial climber that can reach 15 feet in a single season. Large, rounded leaves with heart-shaped bases. Bears fragrant, white 5- to 5 1/2-inch-wide flowers that open at dusk from early to midsummer to frost. The flowers attract night-flying moths. Warm-weather annual or tender perennial.
I. batatas p.
i. bah-TAH-tas. Sweet Potato.
A tender perennial grown in food gardens for its fleshy, sweet, edible roots. Plants can climb or spread 10 feet or more in a single season, and to 20 feet or more in frost-free climates. They bear rounded to heart-shaped leaves that can be entire or lobed and 1-inch-wide, pale purple flowers in summer. While even cultivars developed for vegetable gardens have attractive foliage, often flushed with purple, several are grown for their leaves alone: 'Blackie' bears dark, purple-black, maplelike leaves; 'Margarita' has chartreuse, heart-shaped leaves; 'Pink Frost' has arrow-shaped leaves marked with green, white and pink, which require protection from direct sun. All are hardy from Zone 9 south and produce tubers, which can be dug before frost and used to overwinter the plants farther north. Warm-weather annual or tender perennial.
I. coccinea p.
i. cock-SIN-ee-ah. Red Morning Glory, Star Morning Glory. Formerly Quamoclit coccinea.
A vigorous 6- to 12-foot annual climber with ovate or deeply toothed leaves. Bears small clusters of scarlet, 3/4-inch-wide trumpets in summer. Warm-weather annual.
I. hederacea p.
i. hed-er-AY-cee-ah. Formerly Pharbitis hederacea.
A 6- to 10 foot annual climber with rounded, three-lobed leaves. Bears small clusters of 3/4- to 1 1/2-inch wide blue, purple, or purple-red flowers in summer. 'Fugi Mix' and 'Roman Candy' feature variegated leaves. Warm-weather annual.
I. lobata p.
i. low-BAH-tah. Spanish Flag, Exotic Love. Formerly Mina lobata, Ipomoea versicolor, and Quamoclit lobata.
A tender perennial climber most often grown as an annual that ranges from 6 to 15 feet in height. Bears lobed leaves and dense, one-sided racemes of slightly curved, narrow, tubular flowers that are 1/2 to 3/4 inches long. Buds and flowers initially are red but turn orange, yellow, then cream as they age. 'Citronella' bears lemon yellow flowers that age to white. Tender perennial or warm-weather annual.
I. x multifida p.
i. x mul-TIFF-ih-dah. Cardinal Climber. (pictured above left)
A 3- to 6-foot annual climber, the result of a cross between I. coccinea and I. quamoclit. Bears deeply lobed leaves and crimson, 1-inch-wide salverform flowers, which have a slender tube with a flared and flattened face. Warm-weather annual.
I. nil p.
i. NIL. Morning Glory. Formerly I. imperialis.
A vigorous annual or tender, short-lived perennial that can reach 15 feet in a single season. Bears ovate, sometimes lobed, leaves and 2- to 4-inch wide, white-tubed flowers in shades of pale to deep blue, red, purple or white from midsummer to fall. 'Early Call Mix' is fast from seeds and a good choice for areas with short growing seasons. Platycodon Series bears purple, red or white single or semidouble flowers. 'Chocolate' bears pale red-brown flowers. 'Scarlett O'Hara' bears red flowers. Warm-weather annual.
I. purpurea p.
i. pur-PUR-ee-ah. Common Morning Glory. Formerly Convolvulus purpureus and Pharbitis purpurea.
A 6- to 10-foot annual climber with broad, rounded to lobed leaves and trumpet-shaped, 2 1/2-inch-wide, white-throated flowers in summer in shades of blue, purple-blue, pink, red and white in summer; white flowers with stripes of color also are available. Warm-weather annual.
I. quamoclit p.
i. QUAM-oh-clit. Cypress Vine, Star Glory. Formerly Quamoclit pennata.
A 6- to 20-foot annual climber with deeply cut leaves. Bears scarlet, 3/4-inch wide flowers in summer. Warm-weather annual.
I. tricolor p.
i. TRI-cuh-lor. Morning Glory. Formerly I. rubrocaerulea.
A vigorous annual or short-lived tender perennial reaching 10 to 12 feet in a season. Bears 3-inch wide flowers with white throats in shades from pale blue to purple in summer. 'Heavenly Blue' bears sky blue flowers with white throats. 'Crimson Rambler' bears red flowers with white throats. 'Pearly Gates' has white flowers. Warm-weather annual.
For the Plant Of The Month index click here.
The above copyrighted information is adapted with permission from the "Taylor’s Guide to Annuals: How to select and grow more than 400 annuals, biennials, and tender perennials," (Houghton Mifflin, 1999, softcover) written by Barbara W. Ellis and published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. The Exclusive Online Only Author's Note comes directly from Ellis and is not included in the book.
Ellis is also the author of "Taylor's Guide to Growing North America's Favorite Plants: A detailed, how-to-grow guide to selecting, planting, and caring for the best classic plants." (Houghton Mifflin, 1998, softcover). Country Living magazine called this comprehensive reference "The 'must-have' gardening book of the year."
For more information about these books, please visit your local bookseller.
Images provided by Houghton Mifflin Company.