Morning Glory Orange produces bright orange to scarlet-orange trumpet-shaped flowers with yellow centres. The warm colours stand out against green foliage and bring a lively display to sunny balcony grills, fences, trellises and garden entrances.

Its slender stems twine around supports as they grow, making it useful where planting space is limited but room is available above. Grow it as a seasonal flowering climber in a pot beside a trellis or along a sunny garden fence.

Why Gardeners Love It

• Warm Flower Colour: Orange petals and yellow centres brighten green garden corners.
• Climbing Display: Twining stems carry flowers along trellises, grills and fences.
• Small-Space Gardening: Adds colour above a pot without needing a broad flower bed.
• Seasonal Flowers: Continues developing fresh buds during suitable warm weather.
• Flexible Placement: Suitable for balconies, courtyard entrances and supported garden borders.

Best Conditions

• Germination: Usually 7–21 days
• Germination temperature: Around 21–27°C
• Sunlight: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight
• Pot size: A 12-inch pot, with similar depth, for one vine
• Spacing: About 8–12 inches between plants
• Soil: Moist, moderately fertile and well-draining mix
• First flowering: Often around 8–12 weeks after sowing, depending on conditions
• Life cycle: Annual flowering climber

Sowing note: In Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, sow from February to April once cold weather has eased. A second sowing during July or August can work where drainage is good. In Karachi, sow from February to March, or again from August to September while the weather remains warm. In southern Punjab, sow from February to March or during late summer after the strongest heat eases. In colder northern and hilly areas, sow during spring after frost has passed and the soil has warmed.

How to Sow

1. Soak the seeds in room-temperature water for 8–12 hours, stopping once they begin to swell.
2. Fill the final pot or individual starter pots with moist, well-draining seed starter mix.
3. Sow each seed around ½ inch deep, cover lightly and water gently.
4. Keep the mix around 21–27°C and lightly moist while waiting for seedlings.
5. Transplant starter-pot seedlings after 2–3 true leaves develop, keeping each root ball intact.
6. Leave one vine per pot and guide the young stems onto a nearby support.

Plant Care

Water thoroughly when the upper layer of the mix begins drying, allowing excess water to drain. Container plants may need more frequent watering during hot or windy weather. Guide new stems along their support while they are flexible, and remove yellow or damaged leaves.

Mix a small amount of Vermicompost into the planting mix before sowing. Check beneath the leaves for aphids and spider mites. If pests appear, apply Neem Oil according to its label, covering affected leaf undersides and spraying during the cooler evening hours.

Local Gardener Tips

• Install the trellis or climbing strings before the roots fill the pot.
• Protect newly emerged seedlings from strong afternoon heat.
• Keep drainage holes clear during monsoon rain.
• Remove developing seed pods if extra seedlings are not wanted.

Flowering and Display

Fresh flowers usually open in the morning and close later in the day. Each bloom is short-lived, while new buds continue the display as the vine develops.

Train the stems across a grill or trellis where the flowers can be seen from a window, seating area or entrance. The orange shades work especially well against dark green foliage and alongside blue, violet or white flowers.

FAQs

Why are only some of my seeds germinating?

The hard seed coat can absorb water unevenly. Seeds that remain firm and unchanged after soaking may take longer to germinate. Before sowing those seeds, gently rub a small patch of the coat with fine sandpaper, taking care not to damage the inside.

Why does my vine have plenty of leaves but few flowers?

Check whether nearby plants or structures are shading it. Heavy feeding, particularly with nitrogen-rich fertilizer, can also encourage leafy growth. Give the vine direct sunlight, avoid frequent feeding and allow young plants time to establish.

Why are some leaves heart-shaped and others lobed?

Leaf shape can naturally vary on this type of Morning Glory. Healthy leaves may have smooth outlines or distinct lobes, so this difference alone does not indicate disease or incorrect seeds.

Common names: Orange Morning Glory, Scarlet Morning Glory, Scarlet Creeper, Star Ipomoea