How to Grow and Care for Chilean Morning Glory

Chilean Morning Glory (Convolvulus tricolor), also called dwarf morning glory, is an annual plant admired for its unique, three-colored flowers. The trumpet-shaped blooms feature a golden-yellow throat, a white middle band, and an outer edge of vibrant blue, red, or violet. This makes it a popular choice for garden borders, containers, and hanging baskets. Native to the Mediterranean, it provides long-lasting color throughout the summer months.

Planting Chilean Morning Glory

For prolific blooming, a location that receives full sun is necessary, as the flowers open in response to daylight. This plant performs well in average, dry soil, provided it is well-draining to prevent root rot. A soil pH that is slightly acidic to neutral is suitable for healthy growth.

Start seeds after all danger of frost has passed in the spring. While not required, soaking the seeds in water for a few hours or gently nicking the hard seed coat can improve germination rates. Plant the seeds directly into the garden or container at a depth of about one-quarter to one-half inch. Space seedlings approximately 8 to 12 inches apart. You can also start seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last expected frost date.

Routine Care and Maintenance

Once established, Chilean Morning Glory is quite resilient. Water the plants when the top inch of soil feels dry, but avoid overwatering. These plants are relatively drought-tolerant once their root systems are developed, making them suitable for drier garden spots. Some afternoon shade can be beneficial in particularly hot summers.

To encourage a continuous display of flowers over leaf growth, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer. A balanced 5-10-10 fertilizer applied every four to six weeks supports vibrant blooms. Regularly removing spent flowers, a practice known as deadheading, promotes new buds by preventing the plant from setting seed and channeling its energy into more flowers.

The plant sprawls, creating a colorful groundcover that can fill empty spaces along paths or in rock gardens. While it does not climb, providing minimal support from small stakes or a low trellis can help maintain a tidier shape. This is useful in container arrangements or when combined with other taller plants.

Growth Habit and Potential Invasiveness

The “morning glory” name is often associated with aggressive weeds, but Convolvulus tricolor has a much more manageable growth habit. Unlike its invasive relatives, the Chilean variety is not a vigorous climber that becomes invasive. Its form is bushy and low-growing, reaching a height of 6 to 12 inches and spreading up to 18 inches.

This plant is an annual in most climates, meaning it completes its life cycle in a single season and does not have a persistent root system that spreads aggressively. While it can self-seed in ideal conditions, the resulting seedlings are not numerous and are easy to manage. This behavior is far from the invasive nature of other morning glory species, making it a safe addition to the garden. Its contained habit allows gardeners to enjoy the flowers without the worry of uncontrolled spreading.