Ipomoea purpurea MORNING GLORY (15 seeds)

Purple Morning Glory, also known as Common Morning Glory is an herbaceous climbing plant from the Convolvulaceae family. It is an annual primarily cultivated in gardens for its magnificent flowering.
This twining vine is native to Central America, particularly Mexico. Its growth is very rapid, reaching several meters per year.

Its leaves are deciduous, alternate, and feature a very characteristic heart shape known as cordate. They generally measure 5 to 12 centimeters long and have a slightly pubescent (downy) surface to the touch. Their deep green color creates a sharp contrast with the often bright hue of the twining stems.

The flowers appear as large solitary or grouped funnels, with a diameter that can reach 6 centimeters. These ephemeral purple corollas open at dawn and close as soon as the sun becomes too fierce in the middle of the day.

The fruit is a capsule that develops quickly after the flower falls. At maturity, this brown capsule divides into 3 or 4 distinct chambers to release black seeds.

Morning Glory seeds from Ipomoea purpurea are black, angular, very robust, and about the size of a small pea.

- Uses:

This spectacular climbing plant is highly appreciated for its abundant flowering. It is an ideal ornamental plant for summer gardens. Its rapid growth allows for the quick greening of fences, pergolas, enclosures, balconies, or walls.

It produces a multitude of trumpet-shaped flowers and is suitable for beginner gardeners. Very melliferous, it thrives in flower gardens.

The seeds of this vine contain ergoline-type alkaloids with psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties. In Mexican popular culture, they were used during sacred ceremonies and shamanic rituals.

WARNING: Do not consume. To be cultivated for ornamental purposes only, for the beauty of the ethnobotanical species and its flowering.

- Germination, Sowing of Seeds:

• The ideal period for sowing Purple Morning Glory is in April.
• Sow seeds in groups of 3 or 4 in small 10 cm pots, ensuring good drainage at the bottom.
• Use a substrate rich in organic matter, such as horticultural potting soil.
• Water during sowing, then place the culture in a warm spot day and night.
• Germination generally occurs 3 to 4 weeks after sowing.
• Then, transplant the seedlings directly into the ground or into containers.
• It is important to let this vine run on a fence or a pergola.

Note: there may be some "Milky Way" varieties in the packet; therefore, the flower color may be slightly different.

- Soil Type:

This climber adapts to many soils but prefers loose, rich, and well-drained earth. A mixture of 60% garden soil and 40% standard potting soil is perfect for rapid growth.

- Light:

Purple Morning Glory requires full sun exposure to provide abundant and colorful flowering. A warm location sheltered from the wind allows the flowers to remain open longer during the morning.

- Temperatures:

Of tropical origin, it enjoys heat and temperatures near 25 to 30°C and fears frosts, which destroy its foliage.

- Watering:

Watering should be regular, especially during periods of high heat, to keep the soil slightly cool. Mulching at the base helps retain moisture and prevents the foliage from wilting prematurely.