Content
Planting and caring for perennial morning glory is easy to perform, which is suitable even for novice gardeners. The vine-type plant takes the form of the support offered to it. They grow a culture for vertical gardening, in pots and as a ground cover plant. The climbing perennial liana is distinguished by decorative and delicate flowering and a large volume of green mass.
General description of the plant
Perennial morning glory is a herbaceous vine belonging to the Bindweed family. Also has a name - fabritis. It is characterized by strong branching and rapid growth of creeping stems.
The leaves are most often large, heart-shaped, opposite or alternate on the stem. The foliage has a slight wrinkling, long petioles. The foliage is dense.
The flowers are funnel-shaped, simple or double, with a diameter of 5-12 cm. Various colors:
- white;
- purple;
- pink;
- blue;
- with a combination of two or more shades.
The edges of the petals are smooth or wavy. Many species have a subtle aroma.
The peculiarity of flowering of most varieties is the opening of flowers in the early morning and closing them in bright sun. In cloudy weather, perennial morning glory can be uncovered throughout the day. Flowering continues until late autumn. The culture is unpretentious in cultivation. In the photo below, with proper planting and proper care of the perennial morning glory, you can observe a lush bloom.
The seeds in the capsule fruit appear at the end of summer. Perennial vine can reproduce by self-seeding. Seed germination lasts 2-4 years.
Perennial morning glory is unpretentious to the composition of the soil. Poorly tolerates open sunny areas and needs constant watering. Requires support. When used as a curb plant, it is necessary to constantly shorten the shoots.
Varieties
In the wild, perennial morning glory grows in a subtropical climate and has about 500 varieties. Two types of edible herb are aquatic spinach (more popular in Asian countries) and sweet potato, which produces edible tubers. In horticulture, about 20 varieties are used.
Moonflower
Ipomoea moonflower has been grown for about 200 years. It is distinguished by large white flowers, about 10-12 cm in diameter. White morning glory is a nocturnal plant, the flowering of which begins in the evening and continues until early morning. The flowers have a pleasant almond scent and a shimmering effect. The flowers can remain open in cloudy weather. Each flower lives for one day. Liana strongly branching, side shoots are long, leaves are large, creating a dense, light-tight carpet.
Vine stems grow up to 3 m, and shoots can reach 6 m. Flowering begins in mid-summer or August and lasts until October. Differs from other species in good survival rate of layering during reproduction.
Purple
One of the most common and popular types for cultivation. Liana is long, reaches 8 m. Stems are slightly pubescent, leaves are oval or oblong, opposite. The flowers grow 7 cm in diameter, collected in bunches. Natural color is purple. Varieties with various shades have been bred by a selection method:
- red;
- pink;
- purple;
- dark purple.
With and without edging, as well as with a different color in the middle.
Popular varieties of purple morning glory varieties:
- scarlet Scarlett O'Hara;
- deep purple Gypsy;
- raspberry Caprice;
- blue Giselle.
The number of varieties is constantly increasing. Known in cultivation for over 300 years.
Tricolor
The tricolor variety has been cultivated since 1830. The length of the shoots is 4-5 m, the leaves are heart-shaped, located opposite. Flowers - 8-10 cm in diameter, formed in bunches. Flowers of the red-blue variety of morning glory change color during the life cycle. They bloom with a blue tint, and when they wilt, they become pink.
Paradise Butterflies has a mixture of pink and burgundy shades. The Flying Saucer variety is distinguished by its large-sized flowers. The color of the variety is characterized by light blue irregular stripes on a white background. Each flower has a unique pattern and delicate aroma. Sky Blue Ipomoea has been honored with the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain. The variety has a delicate blue tint.
Cairo
The Cairo morning glory is distinguished by its original palm-shaped leaves. The bright green leaves are transverse and have 5-7 lobes. Tuberous root. The stems are glabrous, grow up to 5 m long.
The main color is lilac, violet-pink. Less common is a white shade with a contrasting dark center. Numerous flowers grow singly or in small groups. They are small in size - 5-6 cm in diameter. The species is characterized by strong branching and fast growth.
Nile
Ipomoea Nile for garden decoration is widespread in Japan, where it is called Asagao. The liana grows to a size of 2.5-3 m, the stem forms a strong, flowers are 7-10 cm. The leaves are oval, wide, with long petioles, dark green in color. The foliage is dense, forming a dense carpet. Photos of the perennial Ipomoea Nile illustrate the variety of flower shapes, which comes with different edge relief and terry.
Bells of the Pikoti variety are blue and red with white edging and slight terry. The Serenada variety is distinguished by its double cherry-red gramophone. Sort Chocolate has an original brown and dusty pink color. The variety is distinguished by a longer period when the flower is in the open state.
Kvamoklit
Morning glory Kvamoklit is distinguished by small, star-shaped flowers. The predominant shade is red. Kvamoklit blooms during the day and rolls up in the evening, unlike other varieties. Liana forms a short, 1.5 to 3.5 m long. Kvamoklite has several subspecies with different leaf shapes.
The leaves of some varieties have a characteristic heart-shaped shape. Other species have original feathery leaves. They are cut into small segments resembling needles. Leaves grow larger at the base of the plant than at the top.
Perennial morning glory belongs to poisonous plants. The seeds of some varieties contain psychotropic and toxic substances.
Breeding methods
Ipomoea is propagated by seed. Seeds with flowers of various shades are chosen in specialized stores. Also, perennial morning glory reproduces well by self-sowing, but without causing trouble for the gardener.
Planting perennial morning glory
Planting the perennial morning glory is possible in a seedling and non-seedling way. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked for several days. It is sown in open ground when a constant temperature is established from + 15 ° C and above. Sow several pieces into one nest, deepening by 1-2 cm.The distance between the nests is 20-25 cm.
Ipomoea is recommended to be planted in sunny, calm places. The soil for planting should be loose, permeable. Seedlings appear in 5-7 days. Excessively elongated seedlings can be slightly deepened. From the very beginning of growth, supports must be installed for bindweed.
Follow-up care
Perennial morning glory must be watered with warm water once every few days.Fertilizing is more favorable to produce fertilizers for flowers, but without an overabundance. Highly nutritious soil provokes a build-up of leaf mass with small flowering.
Pruning
Pruning is done to limit growth, if necessary. It is also carried out to give various forms to the plant, as well as when used as a ground cover crop. The plant treats pruning favorably.
Preparing for winter
Perennial frost-resistant morning glory does not differ, so the liana is cut for the winter. For indoor storage, you can transplant it into pots.
Disease and pest control
Perennial morning glory can be affected by spider mites and aphids. To get rid of insects, vines are sprayed with water or insecticides in case of a large area of damage.
Diseased plants are removed, fungicides are used to disinfect the soil and healthy vines.
Application in the design of the site
Perennial morning glory is used for decorative purposes for vertical gardening. A climbing plant can be launched along arches and pergolas, cones, decorate gazebos, and make green fences. Perennial morning glory will quickly disguise old and outbuildings. Plants can be guided or pruned to create the desired shape.
Long-term morning glory in the design of the site is combined with:
- sweet peas;
- decorative beans;
- Kampsis;
- hops;
- wild grapes.
In flower beds, Ipomoea sweet potatoes are planted with petunias, pelargoniums and coleus. Ipomoea can be transplanted from pots into open ground at any time. Perennial morning glory is not recommended to be planted next to light-loving plants.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for perennial morning glory does not cause trouble for gardeners. Seeds can be planted by direct sowing into the ground. For maintenance, it is necessary to create support and constant watering. With the help of climbing vines with gentle flowering and large foliage, you can create various decorative solutions and shaded corners.
