Ipomoea tricolor
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-poh-MEE-ah TRY-kuh-lur
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
This morning glory with many common names from flying saucer to granny vine can be a perennial, herbaceous vine, but is most often an annual. It reseeds in successive years in cooler zones than its tropical origin of Mexico. It is recognized for its blue, white, or variously colored funnel-shaped flowers and its twining nature. The large showy flowers open in the morning, then fade and drop by evening.
Grow it in full sun to partial shade and it will perform well in poor soil with little or no fertilizer. This vine grows very rapidly but will need a support or other plants to climb up. To plant from seed it is best to nick the hard seed coat and soak overnight before planting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: As this plant is vigorous and self-seeds, it may become weedy.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Star'
- 'Crimson Rambler'
- 'Heavenly Blue'
- 'Heavenly Blue Improved'
- 'Blue Star'
- 'Blue Star', 'Crimson Rambler', 'Heavenly Blue', 'Heavenly Blue Improved'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Star'
- 'Crimson Rambler'
- 'Heavenly Blue'
- 'Heavenly Blue Improved'
- 'Blue Star'
- 'Blue Star', 'Crimson Rambler', 'Heavenly Blue', 'Heavenly Blue Improved'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ipomoea
- Species:
- tricolor
- Family:
- Convolvulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is a capsule. Seeds are poisonous with low toxicity. To plant nick the hard seed coat and soak overnight.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Funnel-shaped, reddish purple, blue, white, or variously colored flowers from mid-summer to fall; flowers open in the morning, then fade and drop.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, heart-shaped, 3-4 inches long
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Hallucinations, dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, numbness of extremities, and muscle tightness.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Indole alkaloids, LSD and others
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Seeds
