Morning Glory Growth Stages: From Seed to Seed Pod
Discover the predictable progression of a morning glory's life. This guide explains the key milestones from initial sprouting to the creation of next year's seeds.
Morning glory plants transform from a dormant seed into a high-climbing vine covered in blossoms over a single season. Their rapid life cycle is a fascinating process to observe. Understanding the distinct stages of this journey helps ensure the plant has what it needs to flourish from its start to the end of its annual cycle.
Seed Germination and Sprouting
The morning glory’s life begins with its hard, dark seed, which requires preparation to encourage sprouting. The tough outer shell can delay water absorption, so gardeners often nick the seed coat with a file or clippers. Soaking the seeds in warm water overnight further softens this layer, improving the success rate of germination. Seeds should be planted about a half-inch deep in soil that is at least 60-65°F.
Kept consistently moist, the seeds will sprout within five to 21 days. The first growth to emerge is a pair of leaves known as cotyledons, or “seed leaves.” These initial leaves have a simpler shape than mature foliage and provide the energy for the young plant to establish itself.
Seedling and True Leaf Stage
After the cotyledons appear, the plant enters the seedling stage and develops its first “true leaves.” These new leaves display the classic heart shape of morning glory foliage. During this period, visible growth above the soil slows as the plant dedicates its energy to developing a robust root system below the surface.
This foundational root growth provides the stability and nutrient absorption needed for the vining that will follow. The seedling requires consistent moisture and at least six hours of sunlight per day. Its roots are delicate at this stage, so care should be taken not to disturb them when watering or weeding.
Vining and Vegetative Growth
Once the root system is established, the morning glory enters the vegetative growth stage. This phase is marked by the rapid extension of its main stem, which begins to search for a structure to climb. The plant produces thin, flexible tendrils that wrap around available supports, so a trellis, fence, or netting should be in place. Without vertical support, the vines will travel along the ground.
Healthy vines can grow several inches in a single day, quickly covering their support with dense, heart-shaped leaves. This foliage gathers the solar energy needed for the next stage of its life. The vines can reach up to 15 feet in a season, depending on the cultivar and growing conditions.
Budding and Flowering
After a period of vining, the plant shifts from vegetative growth to reproduction, beginning the budding and flowering stage. Small, pointed flower buds form along the vines where the leaf stems meet the main vine. These buds swell over several days before they open, with the first flowers appearing around 60 to 90 days after planting.
The plant’s trumpet-shaped flowers unfurl in the cool air of the early morning. This bloom is short-lived; as the sun’s heat intensifies, the flowers close and fade. Although individual flowers last only a day, a healthy plant produces a continuous succession of new blooms from early summer until the first frost.
Seed Pod Development
The final stage is the development of seed pods. After a flower fades, a small, round green pod forms in its place, containing the developing seeds. Over the following weeks, the pod matures and transitions from green to a dry, brittle brown.
Once the pod has dried on the vine, the seeds inside are viable. Gardeners can remove the pods and break them open to harvest the seeds for the next season. If left on the vine, the pods will eventually split open, releasing the seeds onto the ground and allowing the plant to self-sow.