# morning-glories (*Ipomoea*)

Morning glories are beautiful flowers that bloom in the morning and close up in the afternoon. They come in many colors and can climb up fences and trellises, making gardens look lovely!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![morning-glories](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/N_Ipoa_D1600.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Eric Guinther, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:N_Ipoa_D1600.JPG)

## Appearance

The morning-glories has large, vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, often appearing in shades of blue, purple, pink, or white, sometimes with contrasting throats. Its lush, heart-shaped leaves grow along slender, twining stems, creating a beautiful display.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Solanales
- **Family:** Convolvulaceae
- **Genus:** Ipomoea

## Interesting facts

- Morning-glory seeds were used in ancient rituals for their powerful, mind-altering properties!
- One species, the water spinach, has edible leaves and is a popular vegetable in Asia!
- Some ancient civilizations believed morning-glories connected earth to the heavens!
- The vibrant blue of some morning-glories comes from pigments that change color with acidity!

## Special abilities

- **Sunrise Signal:** Morning-glories can open their petals only when the sun rises, ensuring they are ready to welcome morning pollinators.
- **Climbing Champion:** Morning-glories has strong, twining stems that help it climb high structures to reach sunlight before other plants.
- **Seed Powerhouse:** Morning-glories can produce many seeds that remain viable for years, ensuring new plants grow after long waits.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 150-300 cm
- **Spread:** 50-150 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers
- **Pollinates:** painted lady butterfly (*Vanessa cardui*) — sips nectar from the colorful blooms
- **Eaten by:** tobacco hornworm (*Manduca sexta*) — larvae munch on morning-glory leaves

## Traits

- [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Always wash your hands after touching flowers, and don't eat them unless an adult says it's safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify morning-glories?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is morning-glories?

150-300 cm

### How wide does morning-glories spread?

50-150 cm

### How big are the flowers on morning-glories?

3-10 cm

### When does morning-glories bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is morning-glories edible?

No

### Is morning-glories toxic?

Mild

### What is morning-glories's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Cypress Grove Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cypress-grove-park) — Tennessee, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Morning-glories: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/morning-glories)