HeirloomContainer OK

Heavenly Blue

Ipomoea tricolor

Fast-growing climber. 4-5" trumpet-shaped flowers are vibrant sky blue with creamy white throats. Lovely heart-shaped foliage and fast-growing vines are excellent for arbors, trellises, or as a ground cover. Easy-to-grow heirloom variety. Flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon. Morning glory requires short days and long nights to trigger flowering. Vigorous plants put on lots of growth through the spring and summer and begin blooming in midsummer, producing continuously through early fall. NOTE: plants grow vigorously and have the potential to reseed.

Harvest

110-120d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–12

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

8-10 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Showing dates for Heavenly Blue in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 vine →

Zone Map

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Heavenly Blue · Zones 2–12

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing6-12 inches

SoilAverage, well-drained soil, not too rich

pH6.0-7.5

WaterModerate, drought tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorN/A - ornamental only (toxic if ingested)

ColorSky blue with white throat

Size4-5"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 2	—	July – August	—	—
Zone 11	—	February – March	—	—
Zone 12	—	February – March	—	—
Zone 3	—	June – August	—	—
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	—
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	—
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	—
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	—
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	—
Zone 9	—	March – May	—	—
Zone 10	—	March – April	—	—

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet, 12-24 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Heavenly Blue reaches harvest at 110 - 120 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 4-5" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The fruit is a dehiscent dry capsule. The small, black seeds are poisonous. To plant the seeds, nick the hard seed coat and soak overnight.

Type: Capsule.

Storage & Preservation

Heavenly Blue morning glories are ornamental flowers, not edible, so traditional food storage doesn't apply. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dry location (50-70°F, low humidity) in paper envelopes or airtight containers away from light. Properly stored seeds remain viable for 2-3 years. For fresh cut flowers, place stems in cool water in a cool room out of direct sun; they typically last 1-2 days. Preserve seeds by allowing flower pods to fully mature and dry on the vine, then harvest and store in cool, dry conditions.

History & Origin

Heavenly Blue is an heirloom variety with documented breeding heritage. Heavenly Blue is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Mexico

Advantages

+Vibrant sky blue flowers with creamy white throats are stunning and eye-catching.
+Fast-growing vine quickly covers arbors, trellises, and ground areas with lush foliage.
+Easy-to-grow heirloom variety requires minimal care and thrives in most conditions.
+Continuous blooming from midsummer through early fall provides long-season ornamental interest.
+Heart-shaped foliage is attractive even before flowers appear on the vine.

Considerations

-Flowers close by afternoon, limiting visual enjoyment during evening hours only.
-Requires specific short-day conditions to trigger flowering, delaying blooms until midsummer.
-Vigorous growth and prolific reseeding can lead to unwanted volunteer plants elsewhere.
-Susceptible to root rot in poorly drained soils, requiring careful watering management.

Companion Plants

Nasturtiums and French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are the most useful neighbors here — nasturtiums act as aphid trap crops, drawing colonies away from the vines, while marigolds emit thiophenes from their roots that suppress soil nematodes. Sunflowers pull double duty as a living trellis; Heavenly Blue will scramble straight up an 8-foot stalk, and in our zone 7 Georgia summers the canopy filters the harshest late-afternoon heat enough to stretch flowering a few weeks past the usual August drop-off. Black walnut trees are the one neighbor worth a hard no — juglone leaches out through the root zone and will stunt or kill Ipomoea tricolor before you figure out what went wrong.

Plant Together

Nasturtiums

Attracts beneficial insects and acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles

Marigolds

Repels nematodes and various garden pests while attracting pollinators

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators without competing for space

Zinnias

Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects while providing complementary colors

Sunflowers

Provides sturdy support structure and attracts beneficial insects

Bean Plants

Morning glories can use bean poles for support while beans fix nitrogen in soil

Sweet Peas

Similar growing habits and both attract beneficial pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Produces juglone which is toxic to morning glories and inhibits growth

Allelopathic Grasses

Compete aggressively for nutrients and may release growth-inhibiting chemicals

Dense Shrubs

Create too much shade and compete for nutrients, reducing flowering

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Generally disease-free, very hardy annual

Common Pests

Aphids, spider mites, leaf miners (rarely serious)

Diseases

Root rot in poorly drained soils, generally disease-free

Troubleshooting Heavenly Blue

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Vines fail to flower or produce only a few blooms despite vigorous leafy growth

Likely Causes

Soil too rich in nitrogen — overfed plants put energy into foliage instead of flowers
Too much shade; Heavenly Blue needs a solid 6+ hours of direct sun to set buds

What to Do

1.Stop any nitrogen fertilizer entirely; if you amended with compost at planting, don't add more
2.Relocate the trellis or container to a south- or west-facing spot that gets uninterrupted afternoon sun
3.If the plant is in the ground and can't move, wait — slight drought stress in midsummer often triggers bud set

Leaves stippled silver or bronze, with fine webbing on the undersides during hot, dry spells

Likely Causes

Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — thrive when temperatures push above 90°F and humidity drops
Plants under drought stress attract mite colonies faster

What to Do

1.Hit the undersides of leaves hard with a strong jet of water from a hose — knocks mite populations back significantly
2.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil in the early morning before temperatures climb; repeat every 5-7 days for 2-3 cycles
3.Keep soil evenly moist during peak summer heat to reduce plant stress and slow mite spread

Seedlings or young transplants wilting and collapsing at the soil line, roots dark and mushy

Likely Causes

Root rot caused by Pythium or Rhizoctonia species — both thrive in waterlogged, poorly drained soil
Planting into cold, wet soil before it's fully warmed (below 60°F soil temp)

What to Do

1.Pull and discard the affected plants — there's no recovering a rotted root system
2.Work coarse perlite or pine bark fines into the bed to open up drainage before replanting
3.Wait until soil temps hold at or above 60°F and last frost is well past — in zone 7, that's typically mid-May

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Heavenly Blue morning glory flowers last?▼

Individual flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon, lasting only one day. However, the plant produces continuous blooms throughout summer and fall, so you'll have fresh flowers daily during the blooming season. This short lifespan is characteristic of morning glories and part of their charm.

Is Heavenly Blue morning glory good for beginners?▼

Yes, Heavenly Blue is an excellent choice for beginners. It's an easy-to-grow heirloom variety that thrives in full sun with average, well-drained soil. The vigorous vines grow quickly and bloom prolifically with minimal care, making it ideal for first-time gardeners wanting fast, dramatic results on arbors or trellises.

Can you grow Heavenly Blue in containers?▼

Yes, Heavenly Blue can be grown in containers, though large pots (at least 5 gallons) work best due to the plant's vigorous growth habit. Provide sturdy support structures like trellises or stakes for the vines to climb. Container-grown plants may require more frequent watering than in-ground plants during hot weather.

When should I plant Heavenly Blue morning glory seeds?▼

Plant seeds after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Morning glories need warm soil to germinate successfully. You can soak seeds overnight to speed germination. The variety blooms 110-120 days to flower, with blooms typically starting in midsummer and continuing through early fall.

What does Heavenly Blue morning glory taste like?▼

Heavenly Blue is ornamental only and toxic if ingested—do not eat any part of this plant. While beautiful with vibrant sky-blue trumpet flowers, it's strictly for visual garden display. All parts, including seeds and foliage, should be avoided for consumption.

Can Heavenly Blue morning glory reseed itself?▼

Yes, Heavenly Blue has vigorous growth and high reseeding potential. If you allow mature flower pods to dry on the vine, they will drop seeds that germinate the following season. If you want to prevent reseeding, remove spent flowers before seed pods fully develop.