Ipomoea indica (Burm.) Merr. 1917, commonly called Oceanblue Morning Glory, Blue Dawn Flower, Island Morning Glory or Blue Morning Glory, is a vigorous, perennial, climbing and creeping vine, originally native to South America and the West Indies, but nowadys naturalized in most tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The Oceanblue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica) belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), which contains about 60 genera with more than 1,650 species of mostly vines or creepers, but also trees, shrubs and herbs. The tropical vine is considered a noxious weed and invasive species in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, California and Portugal. Ipomoea indica requires warm temperatures, full sun and a moist environment.

Whilst plants are fully established, they will tolerate periods of dryness. The beautiful, circular, blue, also purple or pinkish-red flowers open in the early mornng and close by afternoon and get a size of up to about 8 cm in diameter. Immature leaves are heart-shaped, whilst elder leaves are 3-lobed to 5-lobed. Flowering period: in tropical countries all around the year, with a peak in the hot months. To not lose control of the fast-growing climber, the Oceanblue Morning Glory has to be trimmed several times a year.

Flower Photography © Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Oceanblue Morning Glory (Ipomoea indica)
Photographer: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee

Morning Glory (Ipomoea) plants at Orchids Flowers.com:

Ipomoea horsfalliae

Ipomoea indica

Ipomoea pandurata