How to Grow Dwarf Morning Glory (Convolvulus tricolor)? Planting Methods and Care Tips

Morphological Characteristics of Convolvulus tricolor

Convolvulus tricolor is an annual or perennial herb. The stems climb upward; the leaves are narrowly oblong to spatulate, with obtuse rounded tips, petiolate, and entire; the neck is short and clustered, the flowers are sparse, and the cymes are solitary. The corolla is bell-shaped or funnel-shaped, blue and red, with white edges and a yellow throat. It is annual, with erect or climbing stems that branch heavily and droop downward. Inside the flower there is a white star-shaped zone and a yellow center, plus an outer ring surrounding a single color of red, blue, pink, or white. But the flower, like the morning glory, can only stay open for one day, making it truly worthy of the name: a single flower possessing three colors, the tricolor morning glory.

Growth Habits of Convolvulus tricolor

Convolvulus tricolor can be sown from March to May, blooms from June to July, and mostly opens in the morning.

Convolvulus tricolor likes warmth, moisture, and plenty of sunlight; it is not demanding about soil. You can choose organic all-purpose potting soil for cultivation. During the growing period, the soil must be kept moist and must not be allowed to dry out, and the plant should be placed outdoors in a spot with ample light. About 70 to 90 days after sowing, it will bloom. From one to one and a half months before flowering, apply fertilizer once every two weeks to increase fertility at blooming time and make the flower colors more vivid.

The branches of Convolvulus tricolor are trailing, so during the growing period, when the stems and branches elongate, moderate pruning can be given, and supports should be set up to prevent lodging. It can also be planted in hanging baskets or flower beds and allowed to trail downward, which is also a good choice.

Although the tricolor morning glory has good heat tolerance, when the intense heat of midsummer arrives, the stuffy weather easily makes the plant look weak, so the growing environment must be kept ventilated; moreover, transpiration is relatively fast, so attention must be paid to water replenishment, but the growing medium used must drain well, so as to avoid root rot when the roots are in a hot, humid condition. Its cold tolerance is also good, so the cultivation period can be extended into early autumn.

Propagation Methods of Convolvulus tricolor

Convolvulus tricolor is generally propagated mostly by sowing. The sowing period can be from early spring to early summer. The suitable germination temperature is about 18 to 25°C. It can be sown in a seedling tray, covered with a thin layer of soil, and kept moist. The seedling tray can be wrapped with transparent plastic film to maintain humidity, but water must not accumulate in the tray. It will germinate in about 7 to 14 days. At this point, remove the plastic film and place it in a bright spot. When there are 3 to 5 true leaves, it can be transplanted into a pot. However, the seedlings of the tricolor morning glory are not tolerant of transplanting, so care must be taken during transplanting. Alternatively, it can be directly sown in a pot from the start.

Convolvulus tricolor is suitable as a greening and beautifying material for hedges, fences, and trellises.