Morning glory - common (Ipomoea purpurea)

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Common morning glory is climbing or scrambling vine with funnel shaped blue or bluish-purple flowers. It grows quickly and smothers other plants.

Profile

How does this weed affect you?

Common morning glory is a strong, fast growing weed of natural and agricultural areas. It can:

smother and outcompete native plants on the ground and into the canopy
reduce habitat for native plants and animals
reduce crop productivity
make crop harvesting difficult.

Invasion and establishment of exotic vines and scramblers has been identified as a key threatening process for many vulnerable and endangered species in NSW. Common morning glory is one of the main species listed as a threat

What does it look like?

Common morning glory is an annual twining vine that smothers the ground and can climb up to 15 m over structures and into the canopy of trees and shrubs.

Leaves are:

bright green
2-10 cm long and 2-10 cm wide
heart-shaped at the base with a pointed tip
sometimes three-lobed
hairy
alternate along the stem.

Flowers are:

usually blue or bluish-purple (but can be white or pink) with pink centre.
3-7 cm wide
funnel-shaped
single or in clusters of 3 or more
only open in the morning.

Fruit are:

roundish and slightly flattened
1 cm wide
a capsule that splits into 3 segments with 4-6 dark brown seeds.

Stems are:

hairy
twining, sprawling or climbing
up to 15 m long.

Similar looking plants

Common morning glory looks similar to:

Coastal morning glory (I. cairica), which has hairless stems and 5-7 lobed leaves.
Purple morning glory (I. indica), which has larger flowers (7-10 cm wide).
Ivy-leaved morning glory (I. hederacea), which has smaller red flowers (3-5 cm wide).
Laurel clock vine (Thunbergia grandiflora), which has opposite leaves.

Where is it found?

In NSW, most common morning glory has been found in the North Coast, Hunter and Greater Sydney regions. There have also been a few infestations found in the South East Central West and Central Tablelands regions.

It is native to tropical parts of Central and South America.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Common morning glory grows best in well-drained, rich, moist soils. Plants can grow in a range of soils, but they do not tolerate frost. It is a weed of:

rainforests
agricultural areas
disturbed sites including gardens, fence lines and roadsides
rivers and creeks.

How does it spread?

Common morning glory has been grown as an ornamental garden plant. It is still occasionally grown in gardens.

By Seed

One plant can produce up to 26 000 seeds. The seed are spread by water, wind and birds. The seeds may also be spread by contaminated produce.

References

Defelice, M. S. (2001). Tall morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth—flower or foe?. Weed Technology, 15(3), 601-606.

Harden, G. J., McDonald, W. J. F., & Williams, J. B. (2007). Rainforest climbing plants. Gwen Harden Publishing.

McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.

Muyt, A. (2001). Bush invaders of South-East Australia: a guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. RG and FJ Richardson.

Office of Environment and Heritage. (2017). Invasion and establishment of exotic vines and scramblers – profile. Retrieved 10 October 202 from https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=20052

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 10 October 2023 from: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Ipomoea~purpurea

More information

Control

Because common morning glory produces thousands of seeds, controlling plants before they set seed is important.

Hand weeding

Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled or dug out. Removal is easier in damp soil.

Slashing and mulching

Slashing can be used as part of an integrated control program. Plants can be cut back to get better access to stems, which can then be treated with herbicides Slashed stems will re-sprout if not treated.

Mulching with black plastic can kill the vines. This is not suitable for large infestations or infestations in natural areas.

Chemical control

Spraying

Spray actively growing plants and ensure that all of the foliage is covered with the herbicide mix.

For plants growing over trees or shrubs

cut stems at waist height
move intact stems away from native plants
spray all of the foliage

This will limit off-target damage to the native plants that morning glory is growing on. Regrowth can be spot sprayed with herbicides.

Cut scrape and paint

Cut stems at least 40 cm from the ground. Lightly scrape at least 20 - 30 cm of the stem that is still attached to the roots. Do not scrape all the way round the stem. Apply herbicide the cut and the scraped parts of the stem within 15 seconds of cutting. The upper parts can be left to die.

Basal barking

Apply herbicide mixed with diesel to cover the lower stem, all the way around.

Splatter gun

Splatter-guns use small amounts of concentrated herbicide. They spray large droplets that limit spray drift. They are useful for very dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach.

Weed wipers

Wipers or wands apply herbicide directly onto leaves. This can better target the chemical and minimise damage to other species.

Disposal

Contact your local council for advice on how to dispose of this plant.

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 21 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut, scrape and paint
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2024