Blue morning glory climbs over other plants

Loosely heart-shaped leaves

Flower buds

Brillant blue-purple flowers with a darker centre

Scientific Name

Ipomoea indica

Common Names

blue morning glory

Origin

Tropical regions

Family

 Convolvulaceae

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a vigorous perennial (lives more than 2 years) with twining and climbing stems. This is a robust plant and is often found climbing and sprawling over other plants.

Leaves are large (to 15cm wide), numerous and mid green in colour. They may be heart-shaped to 3-lobed and sometimes even 5-lobed, with pointed tips. The upper surface has short appressed (closely positioned) hairs while the lower surface has silky-tomentose (dense intertwined) hairs.

Inflorescence (a group of flowers) can be in bunches of 2 or many at the end of short stems. Flowers are brillant blue-purple with a darker centre, and the petals are joined making each flower a  broad trumpet in shape. 

Fruit is a capsule.

Top

Other plants easily confused with this plant

This species may be confused with coastal morning glory (Ipomoea cairica) whose leaves have 5-7 lobes, however the leaves and flowers of coastal morning glory are smaller and the lobes are more pronounced.

Blue morning glory may also be confused with species of Calystegia however Calystegia usually has smaller solitary (single) flowers in shades from white to purple depending on the species.

Sources & References

"Plantnet FloraOnline"   (2005)     http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/

"Flora of New South Wales" editor Gwen J. Harden, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney

Prepared by Justin KY Chu, July 2005

Checked by IEWF, November 2006