PlantFiles: Tall Morning Glory
Ipomoea purpurea

This is a perennial here in lahore pakistan specially if winter cared. It blooms heavily in August-September but in some areas has longer blooming season. It is one of fastest vines i have ever grown. The ones in soil bed are much faster and vigorous than those in clay pot. Blooms open in early morning and closes at noon. Does not need much fertilizer and water to flower. Forget it if you want blooms.

I grow this in Southern Italy - now in its 4th year, self-sown volunteers now pop up. 3 seedlings moved to a new area this year covered the whole of it in no time at all! It CAN be invasive, but the seedlings are easy to recognise and I just pull most out as soon as I see them. Leaving 3 or 4 to an area is enough and I put a net up behind them for support. I have only just cut them down now, even though they are still in flower and we've not had frosts yet (and often don't), simply because I wanted to collect the seeds this year rather than let them fall to the ground. I've had loads to give away or swap, which is nice. I use cheap netting and cut the whole thing down, rather than try and extricate the dying vines from the netting.

In summary, great for covering an unsightly area or even just for adding colour to a plain wall. They will trail over walls prettily, but will strangle other plants if not allowed to climb or given support. Great for hot areas - they don't need much water. I have them in one zone with no water/irrigation at all and they die off in August, when it gets too hot. They then regroup and were in flower again in November, when it got cooler. In fact, they are the only thing that will grow in my 'dry' areas other than roses and alyssum.

It is commonly sold in Home Depot and other nurseries, where it's blooms last all day long because they are growing under shade cloths. Alough the blooms are nice, they dont last long out in the real world (outside of the nursery where they aren't under a shade cloth). In our 100+ degree summers the blooms fold up by 9 in the morning, and the rest of the day you're looking at a bunch of shaggy looking leaves. It is also etremely invasive and once you have it in your harden once, it is nearly impossible to get rid of. It is very prone to getting aphids and a load of other parasites and rambles over EVERYTHING, including brick walls, reseeding itself everywhere. Unless you live in a climate where frost and freezes can help you control this vine and where the temperature isnt 80 degrees as soon as the sun rises, you shouldnt plant this invasive vine.

While this plant can be invasive in areas that don't freeze, it is normally a well behaved vine in most of the country. If I had to choose only one plant to have in my garden, this is it.

If this plant is allowed to go to seed even once, you'll battle it for years ... especially if it is on a neighbor's fence and they don't help you battle it!