The morning glory originally comes from Central America, which is why it should be planted in a location that is as warm and sunny as possible in the garden. Occasionally there is confusion among garden owners as to whether morning glory can be overwintered.
Are morning glories hardy?
Morning glories are not hardy and are very sensitive to frost. They can overwinter indoors, but need to be cut back heavily. Cultivars such as Ipomoea “Blue Hardy” are partially hardy, but require protected locations and a mild climate.
The morning glories overwinter
Due to the summer glory of morning glories, it can be a tempting idea to overwinter morning glories for even stronger growth the following year. However, this is not exactly easy, as the short-lived plants with their non-woody shoots are very sensitive to frost and generally to cool and damp weather. Some hobby gardeners report successful overwintering indoors, but before that the plants are cut back heavily. Overwintering in the open field is hardly possible in this country, but due to the comparative ease of growing from seeds, this doesn't really pose a problem when cultivating morning glories.
Beware of frosty temperatures
The frost sensitivity of morning glories not only causes the plants to die quickly in late autumn, but can also pose a danger in spring. That's why the morning glories grown in the house should not be planted out in the garden before the ice saints. Slowly acclimating plants to outdoor environmental conditions can be beneficial for plant growth. To do this, the plants can be placed in the garden for hours during the day or placed in one of the following rooms for the transition:
- Winter Garden
- Greenhouse
- Cold frame
Hardy varieties of morning glory
Gardening stores sometimes sell varieties of morning glory that are described as hardy without any problems. However, varieties such as Ipomoea “Blue Hardy” also require at least a protected location and a mild regional climate in order to have a realistic chance of new growth in spring. Please note that plants grown in pots are much more exposed to winter frost than plants that overwinter directly in the ground.
Tip
If you are looking for a flowering climbing plant for the garden that blooms every year without having to start from seed, then you may also want to consider alternatives to morning glory. The clematis or clematis is generally hardy without any problems and the smaller number of flowers is offset by the longer shelf life of the individual flowers.
