Ipomoea purpurea
Common Morning Glory
an annual member of the Ipomoea genus in the family Convolvulaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
- Genus
- Ipomoea
- Life cycle
- annual
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 2.5 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The seed is anthelmintic, diuretic and laxative[1]. It is used in the treatment of oedema, oliguria, ascariasis and constipation[1]. The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD[2][3]. This has been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders.
- Product or use
- Anthelmintic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Hallucinogenic
- Product or use
- Laxative
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Climber
Environment
- Range
- Central America - Mexico to the West Indies.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate[3]. Grow them on fast in the greenhouse and plant them out into their permanent positions after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away actively.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[2]. The plant is not very frost hardy, but it can be grown outdoors as a tender annual in temperate zones[2]. A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[2]. The flowers are blue, but they turn more pink later in the day[4].
References
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm