What is a Morning Glory?

Morning glory is the common name for flowering plants generally considered to belong to the genus Ipomoea. However, recent research demonstrates morning glories are members of the tribe Ipomoeeae, which includes about 700 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae.

Most morning glory flowers unravel into full bloom in the early morning. The flowers usually start to fade a few hours before the "petals" start showing visible curling. They prefer full solar exposure throughout the day, and mesic soils. Some morning glories, such as Ipomoea muricata, are night-blooming flowers.

In some places, such as Australian bushland, some species of morning glories develop thick roots and tend to grow in dense thickets. By crowding out, blanketing and smothering other plants, morning glory has turned into a serious invasive weed problem.