What are the characteristics of morning glory? A complete guide to this common flower
Morning glory is also called qianniu hua (morning glory), with graceful vines, large and colorful blooms, and it flowers quite abundantly. It is a common ornamental plant, and many households grow morning glory for ornamental purposes. So what are the characteristics of morning glory?
1. Morning glory is a short-day plant with very strong vitality. Morning glory prefers a warm, sunny, and well-ventilated environment, is not cold-tolerant, and can tolerate drought. Morning glory also adapts well to soil, is relatively tolerant of drought, salt, and alkali, and is not afraid of high temperatures and intense summer heat. It is a deep-rooted plant, so when planted in the ground the soil should be deep. However, large morning glory seedlings do not transplant well, and friends who like morning glory must pay attention to this point.
2. Morning glory is also known as qianniu hua, zhaoyan, mingziwu zhong, and cao jinling. It originated in tropical Asia and Africa, and is now cultivated throughout the world. Morning glory is an annual twining herb, with short hairs on its stems.
3. The leaves are heart-shaped. The flowers of morning glory are funnel-shaped, the vines are graceful, the flowers are large and numerous, and there are blue, light purple, or white varieties, among others. The flowers are brightly colored but have no fragrance, opening in the morning and withering by noon. It has strong adaptability and is easy to cultivate. It is a common ornamental plant in urban and rural courtyards, and is suitable for greening balconies, windowsills, trellises, and fences.
4. The flowering period of morning glory is from May to October, and the flowers open from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m., so morning glory is also called “zhaoyan” (morning face). Morning glory comes in many colors, including blue, white, pink, and purple, and it can even change color.
5. Morning glory has relatively high medicinal value. Wu Kuan of the Ming Dynasty wrote a poem praising it: “The materia medica records medicines, and qianniu is found in the herbal section. Among the fences and fallen petals in the warm breeze, the vines grow out in tangled abundance.” The seeds of morning glory can be used as medicine, and in traditional Chinese medicine they are called “heichou” and “baichou.” They can treat nephritis edema, purge damp-heat, and have effects such as purgation, diuresis, reducing swelling, and expelling parasites. They mainly treat symptoms such as limb edema, nephritis edema, cirrhotic ascites, constipation, and abdominal pain caused by parasitic infestation.
Morning glory opens in the morning and falls in the evening, day after day blossoming and fading with such persistence and devotion, never treating it negatively. Although it is very ordinary and not as precious and gorgeous as other flowers, it is hardworking, strong, and plain, and is loved by many people.