In Florida, the morning glory is represented with about 25 species.

These herbaceous climbing vines have large, showy trumpet-shaped flowers and generally heart-shaped leaves. About half of these are native while the other half are naturalized cultivars or introduced weeds.

The mostly aromatic flowers come in a rainbow of colors and hues, including red, blue, pink, purple and white. These flower colors have led to very descriptive names like heavenly blue, cardinal climber and moon flower, which blooms at night. Most morning glory flowers open in the early morning and close before noon each day during their blooming season. While blooming from early summer to the first frost, these beauties are popular among pollinators, often attracting butterflies, moths and hummingbirds.

Landscapers and gardeners like morning glories because they are hardy, easy to grow, fast growing and will thrive in poor, dry soils. They can be cultivated as perennials in frost-free areas or annuals in colder climates. Some species can even tolerate the winter cold of more northern states.

Under optimum conditions, the creeping vines can sprout up to 15 feet during a single growing season. They’re landscape uses include growing along fences, arches and trellises. In addition, morning glories are known for creating shade on walls, cooling buildings and reducing cooling costs. Most morning glories are climbers, but some varieties can be used as a dense ground cover. They grow best when exposed to full sun.

Morning glories can be found throughout Florida and much of the U.S., but they thrive best in the Southeast. Their range extends north into eastern Canada and south into Mesoamerica. There are also many species in Africa and Asia.

The water morning glory or water spinach is eaten as a vegetable in many parts of the world. Introduced from Southeast Asia, the water morning glory is a popular cultivated green vegetable in China, India, Malaysia, Africa, Brazil, the West Indies and Central America.

Due to its aggressive growth rate, water spinach has great potential to invade moist cultivated areas, such as rice and sugar cane fields, and wetland areas such as the Everglades, natural lakes and rivers, drainage canals and ditches.

In Florida, isolated populations have been found floating and creeping horizontally along shorelines and over water for long distances, especially in calm canals and lakes.

A single water spinach plant can branch profusely with stems growing to over 70 feet long. This fast growth rate, approximately 4 inches per day, represents a significant threat to flood control and native plant habitats, especially in central and south Florida.

Because of its aggressive growth rate, water spinach should never purposely be planted in ponds, lakes, rivers and canals. These potentially invasive infestations in aquatic habitats can displace native plants that are important for fish and wildlife.

The seeds of morning glories are said to be highly toxic if ingested. In China, the seeds were once used in traditional herbal medicine as a laxative.

To contact Mike Adams, email adamscience@windstream.net.