Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr. var. acuminata (Vahl) Fosberg

Ocean Blue Morning Glory; Blue Dawnflower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Perennial Blue Morning Glory is an introduced herbaceous twining vine in the Morning Glory family (Convolvulaceae). It is pan-tropical in distribution and its native range is uncertain but is believed to be the West Indies. It Alabama it can be found in the southern half of the state. Perennial Blue Morning Glory occurs on fence rows, on shrubs, on roadsides, and in disturbed habitats. It is a perennial from thickened roots. The vines are 25-30 feet in length, and root at the nodes when in contact with the soil. Young stems are green and pubescent with retrose (backward pointing) hairs while older stems are thick and rope like. The sap is milky. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and cordate to three-lobed in outline. The leaves are pubescent on both surfaces. Flowers are produced in axillary cymes of 2-5 flowers. The flowers are campanulate with 5 long sepals. The corolla is dark blue becoming purplish with age. Flowers open at night and usually wither by noon on hot days. On cool days, they may last the entire day. The pedicels and peduncles are pubescent with reflexed hairs and the sepals are pubescent with slender hairs. The fruit is a capsule with 4-6 black seed. Perennial Blue Morning Glory is available from many nurseries. It is a vigorous climber and requires a trellis. Plants prefer full sun and average soil. Plants can be rooted from stem cuttings. Perennial Blue Morning Glory was selected for the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993. It is listed as a noxious weed or invasive species in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, California and Portugal.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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