Morning glory vines bring old-fashioned charm and a quaint cottage feeling to any garden. However, if you don’t have time to take care of an aggressively seeding plant, you might want to think twice about introducing them into your garden, as they can get out of hand in a hurry. If you have a space where they can run wild over a fence, pergola or arbor, they will make quick cover of it. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s more information on growing morning glories.
Annual in areas that get below 45 F, but can still reseed and come back year after year on their own; perennial in warmer, more tropical climates.
With its bright flowers and lush foliage, beach morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is a stunning addition to coastal gardens. But the tropical beauty of this plant can be threatened by rust, a fungal disease that causes unsightly spots on leaves and stems. If you’ve noticed rust on your beach morning glories, prompt action is needed to control this aggressive disease. The good news is rust can be managed with some simple, effective techniques. Here are the best ways to banish rust and restore the radiance of your beach morning glory plants.
Understanding Rust on Beach Morning Glory
Rust is caused by fungal pathogens in the Puccinia genus. Spores from the fungus produce powdery, rust-colored spots on leaves, stems and flowers. These spots rupture and release more spores, allowing rust to spread rapidly in warm, humid conditions. Left unchecked, rust can weaken and eventually kill beach morning glory plants.
Rust thrives in the moist seaside habitats favored by beach morning glories Coastal gardens with poor air circulation and overcrowded plantings often see serious rust outbreaks Knowing the life cycle of this fungal foe helps inform cultural and chemical control methods.
Cultural Control of Beach Morning Glory Rust
Altering the growing environment is often the first line of defense against plant diseases like rust Here are some cultural techniques to curb rust in your beach morning glories without chemicals
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Improve Air Flow – Rust loves humidity, so improve air circulation around plants by thinning pruning and proper spacing.
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Reduce Moisture – Avoid overhead watering and water at the soil level. Space plants for good drainage.
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Remove Infected Material – Prune out affected leaves, stems and spent flowers to reduce sources of spores.
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Grow Resistant Varieties – Some beach morning glory varieties have better rust resistance. Choose less susceptible plants.
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Disinfect Tools – Clean tools after pruning to prevent spreading spores between plants.
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Reduce Crowding – Give beach morning glories room to grow and air to flow to discourage fungal diseases.
Applying Fungicides to Manage Beach Morning Glory Rust
In severe cases, fungicide sprays may be necessary to get rust under control. Always follow label directions carefully when using fungicides:
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Use labeled products intended for ornamental plants. Common active ingredients for rust include myclobutanil, propiconazole, mancozeb and chlorothalonil.
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Cover foliage thoroughly but avoid overapplying. Excessive application can damage plants.
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Time applications carefully and repeat on a schedule. It takes persistence to beat this stubborn disease.
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Rotate fungicides with different modes of action to prevent resistance. Alternate between ingredient classes.
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Add a spreader-sticker to help the spray coat leaves and stems evenly.
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Avoid spraying in hot, sunny or windy conditions when damage is more likely.
Control with Organic Fungicides
If you prefer to avoid synthetic chemicals, organic fungicides can also combat rust:
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Neem oil – This botanical insecticide/fungicide smothers fungal spores and interrupts the rust lifecycle.
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Sulfur – Sulfur fungicides prevent spore germination. Use formulations safe for ornamental plants.
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Bacillus subtilis – This beneficial bacterium fights fungal pathogens like rust. Look for commercial B. subtilis products.
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Potassium bicarbonate – Bicarbonate disrupts rust’s ability to grow on plant surfaces.
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Copper fungicides – Copper sulfate, copper octanoate, etc. kill fungal spores on contact. Choose products labeled for ornamentals.
Preventing Recurrence of Rust
Consistency is key in preventing rust’s return:
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Inspect plants often – Catch rust early before it intensifies.
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Keep up with cultural controls – Maintain proper air flow, watering, sanitation, etc.
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Treat promptly – Apply fungicides at the first sign of rust. Early intervention is critical.
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Use preventive fungicides – Apply protectant fungicides regularly during warm, humid periods when rust is active.
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Remove susceptible plants – Consider replacing beach morning glories prone to rust with more resistant varieties.
Restoring Beauty Through Rust Removal
Don’t let rust rob your beach morning glories of their natural splendor. A strategic, multi-pronged approach using cultural methods, fungicides and prevention will help you eradicate this disease. With persistence and proper care, your plants will once again be the envy of coastal gardens. Reclaim the unaffected radiance of your beach morning glories by banishing rust for good!
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Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’. Photo by: Hemerocallis / Shutterstock.
Morning glory vines bring old-fashioned charm and a quaint cottage feeling to any garden. However, if you don’t have time to take care of an aggressively seeding plant, you might want to think twice about introducing them into your garden, as they can get out of hand in a hurry. If you have a space where they can run wild over a fence, pergola or arbor, they will make quick cover of it. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s more information on growing morning glories.
Annual in areas that get below 45 F, but can still reseed and come back year after year on their own; perennial in warmer, more tropical climates.
6 to 12 feet, or more depending on variety.
Varieties available in purple, blue, red, white, pink and bi-colored.
Morning glory seeds are highly toxic if ingested.
Are morning glory vines invasive?
Morning glories are often mistaken for their aggressive and invasive cousin, field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), also called creeping Jenny, but they are two different species. Morning glories are from the family Ipomoea and, yes, can also be hard to handle and stubborn. They grow quite rapidly and will aggressively self-seed if not prevented by cutting back and removing seed pods, and some varieties have been declared invasive in certain areas. Field bindweed, on the other hand, sends out deep roots that make it nearly impossible to get rid of. These deep roots also allow it to overwinter in colder climates to return again and again. Field bindweed blooms in white or pink flowers and usually has smaller leaves than morning glory.
Morning glories are easily grown from seed and can be started indoors four to six weeks before the last spring frost. If sown directly into the garden, plant after any threat of frost and once the ground has warmed up to 64 F.
Pick a site that gets plenty of sun. They will tolerate some very light shade, but bloom their best in full sun. Because of their rapid growth, choose a location that will allow for its mature size. Morning glories will readily self-seed if allowed, so make sure they are in an area that is accessible for cutting back spent blooms before they go to seed or an area where self-seeding is acceptable. Be considerate of neighboring yards and where the seeds might fall.
If planting from seed, file seeds to break the outer shell and soak for 24 hours prior to planting to help with germination. Cover lightly with one-quarter to one-half inch of soil and water thoroughly. When transplanting, be careful of the roots, as they don’t like being disturbed. Water deeply for several days after transplanting to help the roots get established in their new home. Helpful hint: If starting from seed, use peat or other disintegrating pots that can be planted directly in the soil to lessen the stress on the root system.
Morning glories grow quite rapidly once established, up to 12 feet or more in one season.
No pruning is required; but to prevent unwanted self-seeding, old flowers should be thoroughly removed before they form seedpods.
Morning glories prefer moderately fertile, well-drained soil that is kept consistently moist until the plant is well established. Adult plants aren’t as picky about their soil and can tolerate poor, dry conditions.
Although usually not necessary, you can apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during growing season. Be careful not to fertilize too much as this can produce more foliage than flowers.
Water freely during growing season and once or twice a week during dry periods; but again, established morning glory plants can tolerate drier conditions. Cut back watering in winter.
Softwood cuttings of perennial species can be rooted in spring or summer. Harvest mature seeds in the fall.
Morning glory vines are sturdy and not generally affected by disease or pests, but can occasionally be susceptible to white blister, rust, fungal leaf spot, stem rot, and wilt. They can also be bothered by aphids, leaf miners, spider mites, and caterpillars.
Deer will eat morning glory leaves and vines, although the seeds are poisonous.
All morning glories should be grown with care and you should check for locally invasive species. Here are a few of the more widely acceptable types: Swipe to view slides
Photo by: alybaba / Shutterstock.
Common morning glory Ipomoea purpurea
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: 6 to 10 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: June to October; year-round in tropics
Color: Purple flower with white throat
Trumpet-shaped purple flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon, which is what gives morning glories their common name. This fast grower grows up to 10 feet in one season. See more on the invasiveness of this species.
Photo by: ChViroj / Shutterstock.
Moonflower Ipomoea alba
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 10-12 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: 10 to 15 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: July to October; year-round in tropics
Color: White flower
This tropical native is noted for its fragrant nighttime blooms and broad, deep green leaves. Flowers open in the evening and close before noon the following day. (Not to be confused with daturas, also commonly called moonflower.) See more on the invasiveness of this species.
Photo by: Hemerocallis / Shutterstock.
‘Heavenly Blue’ Ipomoea tricolor
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: To 12 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer, year-round in tropics
Color: Blue-purple flower with white throat, yellow center
Fast growing, twining climber with a classic morning glory look. Prohibited in Arizona and Arkansas.
Photo by: I_Fleurs / Shutterstock.
Flying Saucers’ Ipomoea tricolor
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: To 12 feet tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer, year-round in tropics
Color: Silvery white, streaked with blue
One of the more popular varieties due to its variegated flower, it produces large saucer-shaped blooms.
Photo by: Jjaikla / Shutterstock.
Beach morning glory, railroad vine, bayhops Ipomoea pes-caprae
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11
Height/Spread: Ground cover 16 inches high and can spread over 30 feet
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Late summer
Color: Pink petals with a darker center
Tolerant of sandy soil, salty air and water. Found along southern beaches from Texas to Florida and Georgia. Fast growing ground cover with evergreen leaves.
Photo by: Lucia Barabino / Pixabay.com.
Mile-a-minute vine, Messina creeper, Cairo morning glory Ipomoea cairica
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11
Height/Spread: 8 to 10 feet
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer, year-round in tropical climates
Color: Purple
Noted as invasive in some areas, check locally before planting.
Photo by: Carol Cloud Bailey / Millette Photomedia.
Ground morning glory Convolvulus sabatius
Zones: Perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 20 F
Height/Spread: Groundcover 1 foot tall and spreads 3 feet in diameter
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Spring through fall, year-round in mild winter regions
Color: Lavender-blue
Forms a mat of green leaves with funnel-shaped flowers.
Photo by: Sari ONeal / Shutterstock.
Cardinal climber Ipomoea xmultifida (I. sloteri)
Zones: Annual, perennial in zones 9-11 or areas over 45 F
Height/Spread: 6 to 12 feet tall, 1 to 2 feet wide
Exposure: Full sun
Bloom Time: Summer
Color: Bright red
A favorite of hummingbirds, with bright red tubular flowers and deeply cut foliage.
- Morning glory vines will quickly cover trellises, pergolas, arches and fences.
- Use them to create a colorful wall or to cover an unsightly area.
- Fashion a living fence, porch or deck railing.
- Plant vines in containers with a supporting trellis.
- Drape out of a hanging basket; they will also twine up the hangers.
- Grow responsibly in areas where reseeding is acceptable.
- Some varieties are considered invasive in certain areas, check locally before planting.
Blue My Mind® dwarf morning glory. Photo: Proven Winners.
Get Gardening: Getting Rid of Rust
FAQ
How do you get rid of morning glory rust?
How to get rid of rust disease on plants?
How to treat brown spots on morning glory leaves?
What spray kills morning glory?
How do you get rid of Morning Glory?
This is how my husband and I safely eradicated a morning glory infestation from our property. For the least labor-intensive solution, you can use the Green Gobbler, which is a broad-leaf weed killer distilled from corn. I have used this weed killer in garden patches where I don’t have any other plants I want to save.
Why are my Morning Glory leaves turning yellow?
Insufficient sunlight can be a cause of yellowing leaves, as morning glories require full sun to flourish. To remedy this, you can transplant your morning glory to a sunnier spot in the garden or trim any plants that are blocking the sun. Another cause of yellow leaves is either under-watering or over-watering.
How do you get rid of Morning Glory Hollies?
Answer: If the morning glory is the problem then getting rid of them should help save the hollies. But you could have another cause as well. If you decide to use a chemical solution, cut the plant close to the ground and then paint the leaves with the solution.
What is beach morning glory?
Beach morning glory is also called railroad vine due to its scrambling nature and ability to cover less used tracks and roadsides. It is adapted to coastal areas where sand is plentiful and the soil is well-draining. Salt, heat, and wind don’t bother this plant and it is common to see it splayed across a dune in coastal regions.