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Morning glories are some of the favourite plants of many gardeners, they grow fast, flower prodigally on a long period of time, are not too fussy regarding soil, often come back from seeds and are also a good material for hybridisation. I will concentrate here on species found on Reunion island.
Although all are not exactly morning glories they all belong to the same botanical family, the Convolvulaceae. This quite large family comprises over 55 genus and 1650 recorded species through the world (the amount of still not recorded and yet disappearing species being larger every day...). Some 44 species of 11 different genus have been recorded on the Mascareignes archipelago, Reunion being one of the islands of the Mascareignes. Plants of the Convolvulaceae family are characterized by a creeping or climbing growth and when climbing they are voluble which means the stem will twin around any available prop. The flowers usually have trumpet shape with a very wide range of colours.
Let us start with a useful one as its tuberous root is highly edible; Ipomoea batatas is the yam or sweet potato. Originating in tropical America it is nowadays grown in all tropical countries and a very important food crop in Africa. Horticulturists have created new varieties with purple or variegated leaves. It is a quite handy ground cover as it will be more a creeper than a climber.
Another Ipomoea has great decorative effect and makes a good conversation point at aperitif time as it blooms when sun sets, Ipomoea alba is a night bloomer which will stay open all night and fade in the early morning. It not only displays large flowers up to 15 cm across, pure white and with a nice perfume, but the opening of the corolla takes place within a few minutes and looks like some speeded-up motion.
Many other Ipomoea grow throughout the island such as I. purpurea and I. indica which both display flowers going from deep purple to pink, a common weed in most tropical countries but with great effect when grown on wire fence. Ipomoea ochraceais one of the few yellow flowering morning glories, displaying a purple-black heart. Ipomoea coccineahas small but very numerous bright red flowers and a natural mutation with orange flowers has been recently discovered by the author of this article. Orange flowers are quite rare in the family and several generations of the plant have been grown to make sure the genes are fixed. Ipomoea pes-capraeor the ‘beach morning-glory' is found or most tropical beaches world-wide where it helps fixing sand, a typical salt-tolerant species (halophilous).
Let us switch to a different genus within the family, Merremia has six species growing here, Merremia tuberosa is the ‘wooden rose', this huge vine growing easily up to fifteen meters produces bright yellow flowers which will become highly prized for bouquet making once dry, looking just like carved flowers. Merremia umbellata will not produce such thing but still has an interesting feature as it blooms in clusters (an umbella is a kind of flowers group) with nice yellow flowers. Merremia peltata is another huge monster which can reach 30 meters long and fully cover trees and shrubs, it has white to yellow corolla and rather larges leaves (up to 30cm long and wide).
We can also enjoy at this time of the year the blooming of Argyreia nervosa known in the US as Hawaiian baby wood rose, though it is not from Hawaii but from India and does not look in shape nor in colour like the wood rose. It has light purple flowers with a darker heart and the leaves have a silver hair cover on the under side hence the local name of ‘liane d'argent' (silver vine). It is another monster plant which will soon cover both your garden and house, provided you live in tropical climate...The seeds have a high level of LSA, a natural compound very close to LSD.
Another psychoactive plant traditionally used by tribes of Southern America is Rivea corymbosa (synonymous of Turbina corymbosa) and known in Mexico as ‘lococito' or ‘small crazy' because of the seeds potency displays clusters of white flowers. It has been reported as being attractive to bees.
Now a real jewel, Stictocardia tiliifolia from eastern tropical Africa has sumptuous pink to purplish pink flowers with purple heart and yellow strikes along inner chalice. This one is found only in gardens on Reunion but has escaped in the wild in both Mauritius and Rodrigue island.
And the last one is a parasitic species which is a rather rare feature amongst vines, Cuscuta campestris is a weird one, lacking chlorophyll hence its yellow colour, and also lacking leaves (which actually are reduced to scales) which is the reason why it has to take sap from host plants, absorbing it through special sucking devices, a real Dracula plant!
Other genus found in the archipelago but lacking aesthetic appeal are Dichondra, Evolvulus, Porana, and Convolvulus.
About Jean-Jacques Segalen
I am a Parisian born professional horticulturist specialized in tropical seeds producing, set on Reunion island (just between Mauritius and Madagascar) 17 years ago. I spend a lot of time gathering seeds in the wild, the ones I do not grow that is. Also a dedicated Tai-Chi practitioner and tree climber!
Posted by oldstarter (from Burlington, MA) on July 8, 2008 at 7:00 AM:
My flowers are beautiful - but many of them never open. I find them under the plant still as buds. What could be causing this? Thanks...
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on July 8, 2008 at 7:40 AM:
Hard to say...it could be an excess of potash fertilizer, I know it tends to make buds abort on passionflowers. It also happens with some hybrids, probably a genetical defence. Sorry not to be more helpful!
JJ
...
Subject: Morning glory Pests
Posted by ennarose (from Wichita Falls, TX) on June 26, 2008 at 12:16 AM:
This is my first time to grow morning glories. The plants came from a friend (variety unknown) plus a few seeds of Clark's Heavenly Blue. The vines look healthy and are growing rapidly. Concern: There are holes in the leaves which appear to be "chewed". Other leaves have tiny holes. I have used a flashlight at night to look for caterpillars or other pests. Cannot find anything.
What can I do to save this beautiful vine?
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 26, 2008 at 3:47 AM:
Well, it can be many different bugs...from snails to day caterpillars or green bugs. Not knowing the ennemy it is difficult to fight it, you may spray with a large spectra insect-killer but then you may distroy many friendly insects. If it is not that bad just let it be, those vines are annual anyway.
Maybe some other folks out there would have an idea?
...
Posted by oldstarter (from Burlington, MA) on July 9, 2008 at 7:34 AM:
ennarose - I have found one or two Japanese beetles on my flowers. They sit there all day and must be removed by hand. They seem to be the culprits when it comes to little "chewed" areas. I'm new to these beautiful flowers too - but will definitely have many more next year! Will try (again) to start from seed.
...
Subject: dangerously invasive
Posted by garsar (from callian
(France)) on June 4, 2008 at 9:59 AM:
lovely but dangerously invasive. I'd never plant them.
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 4, 2008 at 11:53 AM:
Indeed those plants can be very invasive if they get the proper settings but they could not spread free in temperate areas, winter temperatures would wipe them clean.
...
Subject: yes, I enjoyed reading all of this
Posted by bonnemadame (from Fremont, NH) on June 2, 2008 at 7:12 PM:
would like to go to Reunion, I believe it is French!!!
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 2, 2008 at 11:53 PM:
Hi Bonnemadame (this is something of a name, any French ancestors?)
Indeed, Reunion is French though 10 000km away from Paris and we have banana trees instead of apple trees, have a look at my first article which briefly introduces my living area; [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
Bonne journée!
JJ
...
Subject: Very well written and fascinating
Posted by bluespiral (from Ellicott City, MD) on June 1, 2008 at 10:02 PM:
I have often wished more could be written around here on the more unusual members of Convolvulaceae. For many of us, dangling in a viney web over a ravine and/or high in some tropical canopy, where from our armchairs, we can imagine looking dizzily down upon clouds is pure, vicarious joy. Will cross-post to the Morning Glory forum and eventually include it in their sticky index.
ps - Regarding being an alien writer, some of the most wonderful literary works in English have been written by writers whose first language was not English - Joseph Conrad and Vladimir Nabokov - to name just two. And - imho - if you catalyze someone's imagination, who cares whether the i gets crossed or the t crossed?
Thanks for a great article.
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 11:26 PM:
I am glad to read this as I can see I am effective in bringing exotic dreams and as you say 'vicarious joy' to the readers, one of my aims besides presenting some lesser known plants.
Well, I spent some times in the US, UK and other English-speaking countries which certainly improved my language skills but did not stay as long as Nabokov, thanks for the ego-raising comparison anyway;)))
...
Posted by Fitsy (from Hayesville, NC) on June 2, 2008 at 8:22 PM:
How marvelous these are! Thank you
Fitsy
...
Subject: Nice
Posted by phicks (from Lakeland, FL) on June 1, 2008 at 9:50 AM:
Nice Article great pics. Whats that first flower on the right hand side ? Paul
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 11:02 AM:
I knew I should have labelled this one! It is Stictocardia beraviensis, comes from Africa, a wonderful perennial with large flowers, they are quite rare here and whenever people see them they just can't help stopping in their tracks even if they are not plants aficionados.
...
Posted by gardenpom (from Melbourne, FL) on June 2, 2008 at 6:40 AM:
That one grabbed my eye also.....this was such an interesting article. I love the "beach" morning glories, I have seen them here along the shore.
...
Subject: very exciting
Posted by gessiegail (from Taft, TX) on June 1, 2008 at 9:00 AM:
I am growing my first morning glories this year. Do you happen to know the names of the first three pictures you posted? That orange one with the tubular shaping is gorgeous (as are all the rest, too).
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 9:15 AM:
Hi Gessiegail
Then you will soon be rewarded, they are fast growing and bloom profusely.
The first three pics are; Stictocardia bearviensis, Ipomoea nil (I love this delicate blue shade) and Ipomoea purpurea.
Quite a few of the species shown in this article are weeds in the tropics and most people here would pass by without a glance or even spray them with weed-killer, can you believe it?
...
Posted by Lenjo (from Mount Angel, OR) on June 1, 2008 at 9:44 AM:
Wow, incredible, I really like the tubular shaped ones especially the one you are calling stictocardia bearviensis. Someone here at DG sent me seed one year and I thought it was one of the wood roses or merremia. It turned out to be a vine with small white blooms nothing exotic like your photos. Are you a seed collector? I am sure there are many who would love to try some of the beauties. Thanks for the photos and great article.
...
Posted by gessiegail (from Taft, TX) on June 1, 2008 at 9:46 AM:
I need to get some small sticks just to get them climbing and then they can latch on to something bigger behind them. Just can't wait and so glad you wrote this article.
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 11:00 AM:
There are many members of the Convlovulaceae family which produce small white flowers, in temperate area as well as tropics but we sure get more colorful ones here in the tropics.
Yes, I am a seed collector and saler, I do not think I am supposed to make any publicity here but I am the person behind barbadine.com, I grow part of the seeds I offer and collect in the wild, this being the reason why I learnt secure tree climbing, subject of the article of last week. I also collect seeds when I travel in the area, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Comoros and so on.
...
Posted by Lenjo (from Mount Angel, OR) on June 1, 2008 at 11:28 AM:
Well, merci beaucoup for the great tip to where I can find these exotic seeds. I will go check it out right now. There are forums for putting that information out here on Dave's. Joann
...
Subject: Orange!
Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on June 1, 2008 at 7:45 AM:
Good Morning, Jean-Jacques. I love the orange morning glory! Do you get to name it?
MG are sometimes considered invasive here, but they are not so much of a nuisance as the woody invasives - like wisteria. And no matter where they pop up they always have such a cheerful disposition!
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 9:08 AM:
Hi Gloria,
The orange one does not have any official name, so I named it Ipomoea coccinea 'Aurantia' as it is a mutant of Ipomoea coccinea.
Yes, MG are invasive indeed especially in tropical locations where they can become a real nuisance, I get entangled in vines while harvesting seeds in ravines and sometimes feel like a fly caught in a giant web!
...
Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on June 1, 2008 at 10:06 AM:
I envision you caught in a giant web of orange morning glories!
Aurantia! I wonder if it will ever be available in the US?
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 10:55 AM:
Kind of psychedelic vision!
It is available world wide thanks to barbadine.com...
...
Posted by gloria125 (from Greensboro, AL) on June 1, 2008 at 11:10 AM:
I will check it out. I wouldn't mind some orange ones. Will they grow into trees?
...
Posted by Sharran (from Calvert City, KY) on June 1, 2008 at 11:11 AM:
Great article, JJ, and I love morning glories. I was lucky enough to receive some new seeds this spring, and can hardly wait for them to grow.
I too love your orange one, and will begin my search for it right now.
Merci, mon ami!
This message was edited Jun 1, 2008 10:52 AM
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 12:10 PM:
Hey Gloria,
This orange vine is an annual with small development, it would not grow bigger than one or two meters, here it starts growing in march-april, flowers in may-june-july and fruits in july-august-september and is gone by november. May june means winter here, with short days (less than 12 hours light). So I do not know how it will do in more temperate areas, like it may flower in shorter autumn days.
...
Subject: very pretty
Posted by onewish1 (from Denville, NJ) on June 1, 2008 at 6:26 AM:
I enjoyed the article ... thanks
...
Posted by Dutchlady1 (from Naples, FL) on June 1, 2008 at 6:29 AM:
I always enjoy reading your articles.
Hetty
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 9:10 AM:
That's wonderful as I do enjoy writing them myself, am very glad you guys appreciate especially as there are many a skilfull writer on this website and I am a kinda alien here;))
...
Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on June 1, 2008 at 10:20 PM:
So, Jean-Jacques, which one is the one pictured in the thumbnail picture? Is that maybe Stictocardia tiliifolia? I MUST know!
Thank you for a fascinating and beautiful article!
Carrie
...
Posted by jjacques (from LE TAMPON
(Reunion (French))) on June 1, 2008 at 11:21 PM:
Ah Carrie, you already know! Now I am dead sure wether this is S. tiliifolia or S.beraviensis which is what I call it, any clue to differenciate one from the other?
JJ
Some 44 species of 11 different genus have been recorded on the Mascareignes archipelago, Reunion being one of the islands of the Mascareignes. Plants of the Convolvulaceae family are characterized by a creeping or climbing growth and when climbing they are voluble which means the stem will twin around any available prop. The flowers usually have trumpet shape with a very wide range of colours.
is one of the few yellow flowering morning glories, displaying a purple-black heart. Ipomoea coccinea 
has small but very numerous bright red flowers and a natural mutation with orange flowers has been recently discovered by the author of this article.
Orange flowers are quite rare in the family and several generations of the plant have been grown to make sure the genes are fixed. Ipomoea pes-caprae 
or the ‘beach morning-glory' is found or most tropical beaches world-wide where it helps fixing sand, a typical salt-tolerant species (halophilous).
