Ipomoea tricolor Scarlet O'Hara - Morning Glory Seeds

The Climbing Morning Glory 'Scarlet O'Hara' (Ipomoea tricolor) is an annual plant grown for its large, funnel-shaped flowers in an intense red with a white throat. These corollas, measuring up to 10 cm in diameter, open at sunrise and close in the afternoon, offering a daily renewed spectacle from summer until the first frosts. Vigorous, this voluble morning glory has few rivals for dressing trellises, pergolas, or fence wire in just a few weeks.

The Climbing Morning Glory 'Scarlet O'Hara' is a horticultural variety derived from the species Ipomoea nil (synonym: Ipomoea tricolor), belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. It is also known by the common names 'scarlet morning glory', 'red morning glory', or simply 'morning glory' in English. This cultivar was introduced in 1939 by the Waller-Franklin/Dallas Seed company in the United States, where it was awarded an All-America Selections prize for its exceptional ornamental qualities.

Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, the wild species Ipomoea nil has become naturalized in many warm areas of the globe, particularly in Asia, Africa, and southern Europe. In its natural habitat, it is found on forest edges, wastelands, or along fences.

The 'Scarlet O'Hara' Morning Glory is perennial in tropical climates but grown as an annual in our climates due to its sensitivity to frost. This plant has a climbing habit; its flexible, voluble stems naturally twine around supports. Its growth is very rapid; it can reach a height of 2 to 3 m in open ground during a single season. In a pot, with a suitable stake, it can grow up to 1.5 or 2 m. The heart-shaped leaves measure between 5 and 15 cm long and display a dark green hue. The foliage, stems, and stump are destroyed at the first frosts. The stems, thin and flexible, are slightly pubescent and may become slightly lignified at the base by the end of the season. The flowering period, which extends from June to September-October, is particularly abundant. The funnel-shaped flowers are an intense red with a white throat. They attract many pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Pollination is mainly entomophilous. The fruits are spherical capsules, 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, typically containing 4 to 6 black seeds. These capsules ripen in late summer and can be harvested for propagation.

The 'Scarlet O'Hara' morning glory brings romance and exuberance to the garden. Grown in a pot on a sunny terrace or in open ground against a fence, it climbs gracefully and decorates vertical structures in no time with its large scarlet-red corollas. Pair it with its sky-blue version, the Morning Glory 'Heavenly Blue’, to create a spectacular display. It also pairs wonderfully with Spencer Sweet Pea 'Royal Wedding' for a play of textures and scents, or climbs alongside a Thunbergia alata ‘African Sunset’, whose orange tones further warm the scene. This makes for a colourful display, perfect for a generous and lively summer.

Throughout the summer, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators will visit each of its flowers one by one. A great way to bring life to your garden's ecosystem.