Morning glory is a favorite among gardeners who want fast-growing vines and colorful flowers without waiting several years for a mature plant. These vines can quickly climb a trellis, fence, arbor, or other garden structure, creating a vertical display of flowers throughout the warm growing season.
One of the best things about growing these plants is the wide range of flower colors and patterns available. Depending on the variety, you can find blooms in bright blue, deep purple, pink, red, white, and combinations of several colors.
Some varieties produce very large flowers, while others are better known for unusual color patterns. Choosing the right one mostly comes down to the look you want in your garden and the amount of space you have available.
Heavenly Blue
Heavenly Blue is one of the most recognizable choices for gardeners who love classic blue flowers. The large blooms have a bright sky-blue color with a lighter center that makes them stand out against the green foliage.
The vines can grow vigorously in warm weather and are particularly attractive when trained over a trellis, fence, or arbor. The large flowers create a strong visual effect, especially when several plants are grown together.
If your garden needs a cool blue color during summer, Heavenly Blue is an excellent option.
The flowers typically open during the morning, making an early walk through the garden a good opportunity to enjoy the blooms before they begin to fade later in the day.
Scarlett O’Hara
Scarlett O’Hara is a good choice when you want something warmer than traditional blue-flowered types. It is known for attractive rosy-red blooms that create a strong contrast with green leaves.
The red flowers can work especially well against a wooden fence or dark-colored trellis. They can also be combined with blue or purple flowering plants if you want a more varied color scheme.
This variety is useful for gardeners who want their climbing plants to become a noticeable feature rather than simply blend into the background.
Because the vines can become quite vigorous, provide a sturdy support and enough room for the plant to spread.
Flying Saucers
Flying Saucers is one of the more unusual selections available. Instead of producing flowers in a single solid color, it is known for large blue-and-white blooms with distinctive streaked patterns.
The unusual markings make the flowers stand out even when the plant is growing among other colorful flowers.
Flying Saucers works particularly well on a trellis where the flowers can be seen at eye level. The contrasting colors can also add interest to a plain fence or garden wall.
If you enjoy unusual flowers and want something different from a traditional solid-blue variety, this is one worth considering.
Grandpa Ott’s
Grandpa Ott’s brings a much darker look to the garden. The flowers are deep purple with a reddish center, giving them a rich appearance that contrasts beautifully with the green foliage.
The flowers are generally smaller than those of some large-flowered cultivars, but their intense color makes them easy to notice.
This selection can work nicely in cottage gardens, informal landscapes, and areas where you want deeper colors rather than bright pastel tones.
Grandpa Ott’s can also reseed, which may allow new plants to appear in the following growing season. However, gardeners should keep an eye on where new seedlings emerge and remove unwanted plants when necessary.
Pearly Gates
Pearly Gates is a beautiful option for anyone who prefers white flowers. White blooms can brighten a garden and create a clean contrast against dark green leaves.
They also combine easily with almost any other flower color. You can grow white blooms beside blue, purple, pink, or yellow flowers without creating a combination that feels too busy.
A white-flowered vine can look especially attractive when trained along a wooden arbor or fence. The flowers stand out well in the morning light and can give the garden a softer appearance.
If you are designing a garden around a limited color palette, this type can be particularly useful.
Blue Picotee
Blue Picotee offers something a little different from the standard solid-color flower. Its blooms feature contrasting coloration that gives the petals a decorative, almost painted appearance.
This type is a good choice for gardeners who want their climbing vines to provide more than just a block of color.
Because patterned flowers naturally attract attention, Blue Picotee can be used as a focal point on a trellis or near a garden entrance.
It can also be mixed with simpler flowers so the unusual blooms become the main visual feature.
Dwarf and Compact Selections
Not every gardener has a large fence or arbor available. Some people grow vines in containers on patios, balconies, or small garden spaces.
For these situations, look for more compact selections or varieties described as suitable for containers. They may still need support, but their growth can be easier to manage in a smaller space.
A container-grown vine can be trained onto a small trellis, obelisk, or decorative support. This allows you to enjoy colorful blooms without dedicating a large section of the garden to a climbing plant.
Before buying seeds, always check the expected mature size because growth habits can vary considerably between selections.
Mixed-Color Seed Selections
If you cannot decide which color to grow, mixed-color seeds can be a fun option.
A mixed packet may produce flowers in several shades, including blue, purple, pink, red, white, and bicolored forms. Instead of planning a single-color display, you can allow the different plants to create a more relaxed and natural-looking planting.
Mixed colors work especially well in cottage-style gardens or informal landscapes. They can also be useful when you want to discover which colors you like before buying individual varieties in future seasons.
Keep in mind that the exact colors you get will depend on the seed mixture, so the final display may not look exactly like the picture on the packet.
Choosing the Right Type for Your Garden
When choosing between different types, start with the color you want.
If you love bright blue flowers, Heavenly Blue is an excellent starting point. For a warmer display, Scarlett O’Hara brings rosy-red color. Flying Saucers is ideal for gardeners who like unusual blue-and-white patterns, while Grandpa Ott’s provides deep purple blooms.
Pearly Gates is a natural choice for white flowers, and Blue Picotee is worth considering if you prefer distinctive patterns.
Next, think about how much space you have. These are vigorous vines, and some can reach considerable lengths during a single growing season.
A small garden does not necessarily mean you have to avoid them. Growing a vine vertically can make excellent use of limited space. A trellis allows the plant to grow upward instead of spreading across the ground.
For gardeners comparing different Morning Glory varieties, flower color, mature vine size, growth habit, and available support should all be considered before planting.
Growing Different Types Successfully
Although varieties can look very different, their basic growing requirements are generally similar.
Choose a sunny location where the vines can receive plenty of direct light. Well-drained soil is important, especially during periods of heavy rain.
Water young plants regularly while they become established, but avoid keeping the soil constantly saturated.
A sturdy support should also be available from the beginning. Installing a trellis after the vines have already become tangled can make the job much harder.
Avoid excessive fertilizer, particularly fertilizer that contains a lot of nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can encourage vigorous leaf growth without giving you the flowering display you want.
During the growing season, check the vines occasionally and guide new growth toward the support. This simple habit can keep the plant looking much tidier.
Final Thoughts
There are many beautiful types to choose from, and the best one depends on the style of garden you want to create.
Heavenly Blue provides classic blue flowers, Scarlett O’Hara adds rich red color, Flying Saucers offers unusual patterns, Grandpa Ott’s brings deep purple tones, and Pearly Gates creates a clean white display.
If you have limited space, consider growing a suitable selection in a container with a small trellis. If you have a large fence or arbor, vigorous vines can create an impressive wall of flowers.
Whatever type you choose, give it plenty of sunlight, good drainage, regular care, and a sturdy structure to climb. With the right conditions, these fast-growing vines can become one of the most noticeable flowering features in a summer garden.