# Red Morning Glory (*ipomoea coccinea*)

The Red Morning Glory is a beautiful climbing plant with bright red trumpet-shaped flowers. It loves to twine around fences and trellises, creating a stunning display in gardens!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Red Morning Glory thrives in sunny gardens, along roadsides, and in open fields with plenty of sunlight.
- **Also known as:** Red Convolvulus, Scarlet Morning Glory

![Red Morning Glory](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ipomoea_coccinea_01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Michael Wolf, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ipomoea_coccinea_01.jpg)

## Appearance

The Red Morning Glory is a vibrant twining vine with slender stems and heart-shaped leaves. It has numerous small, trumpet-shaped flowers, typically a brilliant scarlet or orange-red, which open wide to reveal a contrasting yellow throat. These distinctive blooms create a striking display against its green foliage.

## Taxonomy

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

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name "coccinea" means "scarlet," perfectly describing its vibrant red flowers!
- Morning Glories are cousins to the sweet potato, an unexpected vegetable connection!
- Some people believe seeing a Morning Glory bloom brings good luck for the day!
- This quick-growing vine can cover large areas, creating a beautiful living privacy screen.

## Special abilities

- **Speedy Climber:** Red Morning Glory can grow incredibly fast, reaching for sunlight and quickly covering fences or other plants to get a head start.
- **Nectar Beacon:** Red Morning Glory has bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers that act like a giant target, guiding hummingbirds and insects to its sugary nectar.
- **Twining Grip:** Red Morning Glory uses its flexible stems to twine tightly around supports, allowing it to climb high and capture more sunlight.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-400 cm
- **Spread:** 100-300 cm
- **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer, Fall
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect, Bird

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — drinks nectar from its vibrant flowers
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from blooms
- **Eats:** Tobacco Hornworm (*Manduca sexta*) — larvae feed on its leaves and stems

## Traits

- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

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

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Red Morning Glory?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Red Morning Glory?

200-400 cm

### How wide does Red Morning Glory spread?

100-300 cm

### How big are the flowers on Red Morning Glory?

2-3 cm

### When does Red Morning Glory bloom?

Summer, Fall

### Is Red Morning Glory edible?

No

### Is Red Morning Glory toxic?

Mild

### What is Red Morning Glory's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Reynolds Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reynolds-nature-preserve) — Georgia, US · Nature Reserve

## 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: [Red Morning Glory: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-morning-glory)