The Complete Guide to Growing Moonflowers and Morning Glories Together
Many people grow moonflowers and morning glories in their gardens because they are beautiful flowers. These two plants grow quickly and bloom a lot throughout the season. They look great together and add vertical interest to any outdoor space.
We’ll talk about everything you need to know to grow these beautiful plants together, from how to plan and plant them to how to care for and support them.
What Are Moonflowers and Morning Glories?
Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba) and morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea) are closely related vine species in the Convolvulaceae family. They share similar needs and growth habits, making them ideal companions in the garden.
Morning Glories
Morning glories are fast-growing annual vines that produce brightly colored, trumpet-shaped blooms in shades of blue, purple, pink, red and white. The flowers open with the morning sun and last for just one day before withering.
Popular morning glory varieties include:
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Heavenly Blue – Vibrant purple-blue blooms
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Grandpa Ott – Deep purple with red star center
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Scarlett O’Hara – Bright red blossoms
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Pearly Gates – Pure white flowers
Moonflowers
Moonflowers unfurl their huge, white, trumpet-shaped blooms in the evening and release a lovely, lemon-like fragrance. The imposing flowers can reach 6-8 inches across and close when touched by the morning sun.
Unlike morning glories, moonflowers are tender perennials in zones 9-11 but grown as annuals where not hardy. There is one main species with no special varieties.
Why Grow Moonflowers and Morning Glories Together?
Here are some of the benefits of planting morning glories and moonflowers side by side:
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Extended blooming period – Morning glories provide color during the day while moonflowers take over at night.
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Complementary colors – The pure white moonflower blooms pair elegantly with vibrant morning glory hues.
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Shared needs – Both vines thrive in similar conditions, making them easy companions.
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Smart use of space—a single wall or trellis can hold both for vertical appeal
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Fragrance – Moonflowers fill the evening air with a lovely scent.
How to Plan Your Planting
When planning your morning glory and moonflower garden, consider these tips:
Sunlight
Select a very sunny spot. Morning glories and moonflowers both require at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. A location getting sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon is ideal.
Support Structure
Provide a sturdy support structure for the vines to climb up. Good options include a trellis, fence, arbor or strings attached to a wall. The support should be tall, at least 5-6 feet high.
Design Ideas
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For a two-toned vertical garden, put morning glories on one side of a trellis and moonflowers on the other.
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Alternate moonflower and morning glory plants along a fence line.
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Train moonflowers up strings fanning out across a wall with morning glories at their base.
Proximity
Plant the vines close together, spacing them 8-12 inches apart. This encourages quicker coverage over supports.
How to Plant Moonflowers and Morning Glories
Follow these tips for successful planting:
When to Plant
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost date for your growing zone. Morning glories and moonflowers can’t withstand frost.
You can also start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last expected frost to get a head start on growth. Take care not to disturb roots when transplanting seedlings outside.
Preparing Soil
Enrich soil with aged compost or manure before planting. Well-drained soil is essential.
Planting Seeds
Sow seeds 1 inch deep and 6 inches apart along the base of your support structure. Gently water after planting.
Germination
Seeds will germinate in 5-10 days when soil temperature reaches 65°F.
Thinning
When seedlings have 2-3 sets of leaves, thin to 1 plant every 8-12 inches.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced vegetable fertilizer at planting time and again midseason.
Mulching
Spread 2-3 inches of mulch around plants to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Leave some space around stems.
Caring for Moonflowers and Morning Glories
Proper care and support will keep your vines thriving. Here are some tips:
Support and Training
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Add strings up supports to encourage climbing.
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Gently tie wandering stems to supports as they grow.
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Pinch off side shoots to promote upward growth.
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Weave stems through trellis openings or fencing.
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Wrap vines reaching the top back down to fill out the structure.
With attentive training, you’ll get lush, flowering vines.
Ongoing Care
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Water at soil level about 1-2 inches per week.
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Fertilize every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
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Pinch back tips to encourage bushy growth.
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Remove faded blooms and unwanted growth.
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Mulch well and pull weeds to avoid competition.
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Monitor for aphids, spider mites or beetles and take action if found.
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Collect seeds in fall to replant. Vines will die after frost.
Maximizing Blooms
Here are some tricks to get the most flowers:
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Grow fresh plants from seed annually for best performance.
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Use a fertilizer low in nitrogen to avoid excess foliage over flowers.
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Soak seeds before planting to speed germination.
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Pinch back tips frequently to encourage more blooms.
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Deadhead spent blooms to promote more blossoms.
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Provide consistent moisture, especially in hot, dry conditions.
Companion Plantings
Some great options for planting with morning glories and moonflowers:
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Sunflowers – Fellow big, bold annual vine.
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Clematis – Showy non-vining climbers.
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Cosmos – Bright, daisy-like flowers.
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Marigolds – Cheery edible blooms.
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Zinnias – Vivid, butterfly-friendly blossoms.
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Nasturtiums – Cascading edible flowers.
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Petunias – Sweetly fragrant.
Enjoy Endless Flower Color
By planting morning glories and moonflowers together, you can revel in a nonstop succession of blossoms from dawn to dusk all season long.
With ample sun, rich soil, consistent water and smart vertical gardening techniques, these flowering vines will reward you with a lush, heavenly carpet of color. The moonflower’s evening fragrance is the perfect finishing touch to a garden filled with vivid morning glory blooms each day. Together, they maximize space and provide sensory delight around the clock.
What’s your favorite morning glory variety to pair with classic white moonflowers? Let us know in the comments!
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FAQ
What flowers grow well with morning glory?
The white flowers of the White Morning Glory stand out against the bright yellow of the Black-eyed Susan and Marigold. On the other hand, the soft hues of Sweet Alyssum and Nasturtium harmonize beautifully with the morning glory.
Are moonflowers and morning glory the same?
Ipomoea alba is a species of night-blooming morning glory plant that is also called tropical white morning glory, moonflower, or moonvine in English. It is native to tropical and subtropical parts of North and South America, from Argentina to northern Mexico, Arizona, Florida, and the West Indies.
What is a companion plant for moonflower?
Companion Plants for Moonflowers Other vines that bloom in summer also make lovely companions. Try cypress vines (I. quamoclit), annuals with bright red flowers and fine-cut foliage that can also grow to 20′ in a growing season or Cardinal climber (I. x multifida), another annual with scarlet blooms that grows to 10′.
Will morning glories choke out other plants?
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Georgia Wildlife Resources Divisionhttps://georgiawildlife.comOut My Backdoor: Misunderstood Morning GloriesWhen growing conditions are just right, some species of morning glories can completely blanket and smother other plants. … Fortunately, when this occurs the i…
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comHow to get rid of morning glory without affecting your other plants or …Jan 4, 2018 — How exactly does kudzu/bindweed/morning glory kill the plants it twines around? Does it feed upon the substance of the host or compete with nutrients…
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Greg Apphttps://greg.app7 Plants That Thrive Alongside White Morning Glory – GregNov 24, 2024 — Plants to Avoid Near White Morning Glory Certain aggressive climbing plants, like Wisteria, can pose a significant threat to your White Morning Glor…
What is the difference between morning glory & Moonflower?
During the long, warm summer days, morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea) and moonflowers (Ipomoea alba) climb over trellises, fences, and walls that are built of wood. When comparing moonflower vs morning glory, the moonflower opens its fragrant white blossoms in the evening, while morning glory blossoms open in the morning.
Are morning glories a perennial?
While hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12, these tender perennials are usually grown as annuals in the garden. Moonflowers and morning glories are closely related members of the Ipomoea family. Moonflowers are native to Florida, Mexico and Central and South America, while morning glories are native to Mexico.
Are morning glories related to worms?
Morning glories and moonflowers are not worms, but they are members of the genus Ipomoea. The name Ipomoea comes from the Greek ips (worm) and homoios (similar), in reference to the plants’ climbing or trailing habit.
How do you plant Morning Glory & ‘Evening Glory’ together?
Always an attention getter, “Evening Glory” is a wonderful vine to incorporate into one’s garden! I love planting these together with morning glory. I plant them both in large rectangular planters, and let them climb up two trellises that I have mounted to the brick facing of the house. They look so beautiful!
What color are the self-sown flowers of Morning Glory?
The self-sown flowers of Morning Glory are almost always purple or a rosy magenta. The common morning glory, I. purpurea, is native to Mexico but has been much hybridized. It usually self-sows in my garden.
How do you plant Moonflower & Morning Glory trellis?
Stagger the moonflower and morning glory seeds or plant with the moonflowers on the outer edges of the trellis to “frame” the morning glories when the vines reach their mature size. To give the vines a head start on summer flowering, start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost date in your area.