Morning glories are fast-growing annual vines known for their vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that open each morning. Yes, morning glories require a form of vertical support to grow successfully and achieve their characteristic display. Without a structure to climb, these vines cannot reach their mature height or produce their maximum number of blooms.
The Vining Nature of Morning Glories
The need for vertical support is rooted in the plant’s biological growth habit, defined as “twining.” The vine grows by spiraling its stem around a slender, fixed object as it seeks to climb upward. Morning glories do not use adhesive pads or specialized tendrils like ivy; the stem must physically wrap around a narrow support, such as a wire, pole, or thin slat.
If a suitable structure is not provided, the vine grows horizontally and piles up in a dense mound. This matted growth restricts airflow and traps moisture around the foliage. Such conditions increase the plant’s susceptibility to fungal diseases, like powdery mildew, and attract various pests. Ultimately, the plant will produce fewer flowers when left to sprawl on the ground.
Choosing and Installing Vertical Support
Selecting the right support involves considering the plant’s vigorous growth rate, which can reach between 6 and 10 feet in a single growing season. Dedicated vertical structures, such as trellises, netting, and obelisks, are the most effective options. Trellises made from wood, metal, or plastic offer a rigid framework, but the slats must be thin enough for the young vines to wrap around.
Netting made of nylon or plastic is an excellent, low-cost choice, but the mesh size should be approximately 4 to 6 inches to allow the twining stems to grip easily. The structure should be installed securely before planting the seeds or transplants. Anchoring the support deeply into the ground prevents it from toppling over once the vine reaches its mature weight. A height of at least 6 to 8 feet is recommended for most varieties. Once planted, the gardener may need to gently guide the initial few inches of the vine toward the base of the support to initiate twining.
Utilizing Existing Structures and Ground Cover
Gardeners can utilize various existing structures around the home instead of installing a dedicated trellis. Chain-link fences and decorative metal railings offer a perfect framework because their open design and thin components are ideal for twining vines. Structures like pergolas, arbors, or mailboxes can also be used, transforming a simple fixture into a seasonal column of flowers. When growing against a solid wall or wooden fence, it is necessary to string a network of wires or twine to create the small-diameter supports the vines require.
An alternative approach is to intentionally use morning glories as an annual ground cover, though this requires more space and accepts the drawbacks of lower air circulation. In this scenario, the vines trail and spread across the soil, creating a flowering carpet. The plants can also be grown in large containers or hanging baskets, where the vines spill over the edges. In this hanging method, gravity provides the vertical display rather than the twining mechanism, offering a beautiful, cascading effect.