Ipomoea purpurea
| Ipomoea purpurea | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 7 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 8' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Ipomoea purpurea (common name: common morning glory)
Propagation: Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate[1]. Grow them on fast in the greenhouse and plant them out into their permanent positions after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away actively.
Cultivation: Requires a fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[2].
The plant is not very frost hardy, but it can be grown outdoors as a tender annual in temperate zones[2].
A very ornamental plant, there are several named varieties[2]. The flowers are blue, but they turn more pink later in the day[3].
Range: Central America - Mexico to the West Indies.
Habitat: Scrub and waste places[3]. Stream banks, disturbed or waste areas[4].
Medicinal: The seed is anthelmintic, diuretic and laxative[5]. It is used in the treatment of oedema, oliguria, ascariasis and constipation[5].
The seed contains small quantities of the hallucinogen LSD[2][1]. This has been used medicinally in the treatment of various mental disorders.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Pharbitis purpurea.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Grey-Wilson, Christopher and Victoria Matthews. Gardening on Walls. Collins, 1983.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ Diggs, George and Barney Lipscomb. Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas. Botanical Research Institute, 1999.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.