What other names does the tricolor morning glory have? Let's find out together.

Morphological Characteristics of the Tricolor Morning Glory

The tricolor morning glory is an annual or perennial herb. The stems climb upward; the leaves are narrowly oblong to spoon-shaped, with bluntly rounded tips, stalked, 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 or red, with white edges and a yellow throat. It is annual, with stems erect or climbing upward, many branches that droop, and the flower has a white star-shaped zone and a yellow center, surrounded by an outer ring of a single color in red, blue, pink, or white. However, the flowers, just like morning glories, can only stay open for one day, making it truly a tricolor morning glory, a flower with three colors in one bloom.

Growth Habits of the Tricolor Morning Glory

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

The tricolor morning glory prefers warmth, moisture, and plenty of sunlight; it is not demanding about soil and can be grown with organic all-purpose potting mix. During the growing period, the soil must be kept moist and not allowed to dry out, and it should be placed outdoors in a spot with ample light. It will bloom about 70 to 90 days after sowing. From one to one and a half months before flowering, apply fertilizer once every two weeks to increase the nutrient supply at flowering and make the flower colors more vivid.

The branches of the tricolor morning glory are trailing, so during the growing period, when the stems and branches extend, they can be pruned moderately and given support stakes to prevent lodging. It can also be planted in hanging baskets or flower beds and allowed to grow 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 needs to be kept ventilated; transpiration is also faster, so attention must be paid to water replacement, but the growing medium used must drain well to avoid root rot caused by the roots being in a hot, wet condition. Its cold tolerance is also good, so the growing period can be extended into early autumn.

Propagation Methods of the Tricolor Morning Glory

The tricolor morning glory 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 covered with clear plastic film to maintain humidity, but water must not accumulate in the tray. It will germinate in about 7 to 14 days. At that 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 do not tolerate transplanting well, so care must be taken during transplanting. It can also be sown directly into the pot from the start.

The tricolor morning glory is suitable as greening and beautifying material for hedges, fences, and trellises.