A Gentle Guide to Morning Glory Varieties

Saturday, Jun 14, 2025 | 6 minute read | Updated at Saturday, Jun 14, 2025

@ Jojo Len

“She blooms early, rests soon, and never apologizes for being ephemeral.”

There’s a quiet magic in waking up with the Morning Glory.

Each summer morning, I watch her petals unfurl like soft declarations of selfhood — a reminder that we, too, are allowed to bloom on our own timeline. Morning Glories (Ipomoea spp.) are climbing annuals with trumpet-shaped blossoms that greet the dawn and close before afternoon. But within that brief bloom lies something enduring: grace without striving, beauty without noise, presence without permanence.

In this gentle guide, I’ll walk you through the most beloved Morning Glory varieties — not just as flowers, but as floral companions to healing, femininity, and soft resilience.

🌿 Heavenly Blue — The Soft Awakening

Heavenly Blue morning glory in full bloom, with soft sky-blue petals and a white center, climbing on a garden trellis under morning sunlight.

These celestial blooms wear a sky-blue gown with a white heart, like the memory of a peaceful morning. “Heavenly Blue” is a classic cultivar known for its large, bright flowers and vigorous vines — a favorite among cottage garden lovers.

I planted her when I first moved to a quieter life. As she wrapped herself around the fence, I realized I was learning to rise with softness too.

🌱 Tip: Soak seeds overnight and plant in full sun with well-drained soil. Use a tall trellis to support rapid growth.
Ideal for: trellises, arches, morning-facing gardens
Keywords: Heavenly Blue Morning Glory, blue flowering vines, soft garden colors

💜 Grandpa Ott’s — The Heirloom Memory

Grandpa Ott’s morning glory flower featuring deep purple petals and a vivid red star-shaped throat, blooming along a rustic fence in a cottage garden.

Grandpa Ott’s speaks in deep violets and red stars, like a secret passed down through hands dirt-stained and strong. A beloved heirloom Morning Glory, she’s a reliable self-seeder and storyteller.

Her blooms remind me of matriarchs — quiet but fierce, holding generations inside them.

🌱 Tip: Let a few blooms go to seed; she’ll return next season without invitation.
Ideal for: vintage-style gardens, heirloom plant collections
Keywords: heirloom Morning Glory, purple flowering climber, Grandpa Ott vine

❤️ Scarlett O’Hara — The Feminine Flame

Scarlett O’Hara morning glory with bold crimson-red petals and a white center, growing upward on a wooden support with expressive energy.

She enters like a song — bold crimson petals, white-throated and unapologetically vivid. “Scarlett O’Hara” doesn’t ask for space. She takes it, elegantly.

If you’ve ever felt too much, too loud, too bright — plant her. She’ll tell you you’re just enough.

🌱 Tip: Prune early vines to encourage bushier growth. Deadhead to prolong blooming.
Ideal for: bold garden palettes, expressive landscape designs
Keywords: red Morning Glory, dramatic flower varieties, feminine power

☁️ Flying Saucers — The Cosmic Bloom

Flying Saucers morning glory showing swirling blue and white striped petals, blooming in soft light with a dreamy garden backdrop.

Swirls of pale blue and white spiral across every petal like a galaxy unraveling. No two Flying Saucers are alike — and that’s precisely the point.

They became my favorite when I stopped trying to be predictable. Their marbled patterns remind me that beauty can be strange, asymmetrical, uniquely ours.

🌱 Tip: Choose a sunny, protected spot to help intensify the marbling effect.
Ideal for: artistic gardens, color contrasts
Keywords: striped Morning Glory, marbled petal flower, blue and white bloom

🌌 Milky Way — The Quiet Dreamer

Milky Way morning glory with delicate white petals touched by subtle lavender veins, glowing gently in a minimalist garden scene.

Soft white blossoms brushed with lavender veins. “Milky Way” carries herself with subtlety — not here to shout, only to shimmer.

Grow her when you need grace that doesn’t perform. Her blooms are small acts of stillness.

🌱 Tip: Provide afternoon shade to preserve delicate petal coloring.
Ideal for: white-themed gardens, minimalism lovers
Keywords: white Morning Glory, delicate flower, minimal floral charm

🥀 Japanese Asagao — The Living Poem

Japanese Asagao (Shibori variety) morning glory with indigo and white brushstroke-patterned petals, climbing a bamboo trellis in early morning mist.

In Japan, Morning Glories are called “Asagao” — morning faces. Cultivars like ‘Shibori’ (brush-stroke patterns) and ‘Kikyo-zaki’ (star-shaped) turn each bloom into a miniature artwork.

When I grew my first Shibori, I cried. Not because it was beautiful — but because it showed me how imperfection could be sacred.

🌱 Tip: Japanese varieties prefer cooler mornings and benefit from early sowing. Support with bamboo stakes for an aesthetic match.
Ideal for: collectors, cultural gardens, poetic landscapes
Keywords: Japanese Morning Glory, Asagao varieties, Kikyo-zaki, Shibori flower

🤍 Pearly Gates — The Clean Slate

Pearly Gates morning glory featuring pure white petals, blooming softly along a white fence in peaceful, symbolic garden light.

White as possibility, “Pearly Gates” is understated elegance. She climbs fences like an old soul climbing back into herself.

Grow her when you’re healing, or just beginning again. Let her tell you: blank pages are sacred too.

🌱 Tip: Use light-colored fencing or backgrounds to highlight her clean beauty. Water regularly but avoid soggy soil.
Ideal for: monochrome gardens, weddings, symbolic planting
Keywords: white flowering vines, symbolic blooms, garden renewal

🌸 FAQ: Morning Glory Care & Growing Tips

What is the best Morning Glory variety for beginners?
Heavenly Blue is perfect for first-time growers due to its vigorous growth and large blooms.

How do I grow Morning Glories from seed?
Scarify seeds with sandpaper and soak overnight. Sow directly after the last frost in full sun.

Can Morning Glories grow in pots or containers?
Yes! Just ensure they have a trellis or support and receive 6+ hours of sunlight daily.

Are Morning Glories perennial or annual?
Most are annuals, but some varieties in warmer climates (Ipomoea indica) may behave as perennials.

Are Morning Glories safe around pets?
No. Seeds contain toxic alkaloids. Keep away from pets and children.

When do Morning Glories bloom?
Usually from midsummer until frost. Flowers open in the morning and close by mid-afternoon.

🌱 Final Thoughts: Bloom Briefly, Bloom Fully

Morning Glories taught me that life doesn’t have to be long to be meaningful.

They bloom, they rest. They don’t seek applause. They don’t fear fading. They simply arrive, radiant — and let go.

May you find your own rhythm in their example:
Bloom when you’re ready.
Climb at your own pace.
Rest when it’s time.

And never, ever apologize for being ephemeral.

With grace and growing light,
Jojo Len

🌸 Keep Wandering Through the Garden

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