How to Grow Beggar's Lice
Beggar's Lice
Pharbitis purpurea
vineBeggar's lice, commonly known as morning glory, is a fast-growing annual climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped flowers in shades of purple, blue, pink, or white. The plant produces distinctive spiky seed pods that cling to clothing and fur, hence its colloquial name. It's valued as an ornamental for its prolific blooming and rapid coverage of trellises and arbors.
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Example Beggar's Lice timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Beggar's Lice
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Beggar's Lice
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-11; annual in cooler zones, can persist as short-lived perennial in warmer zones
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Get my Beggar's Lice timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny cotyledons emerge with true leaves following shortly after. Plant is low-growing with soft, tender stems.
Maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth. Thin seedlings to proper spacing.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksVigorous climbing vine rapidly produces heart-shaped leaves along twining stems. No flowers yet. Plant quickly fills available vertical space.
Install trellis or support structure early. Water regularly during dry periods. Pinching tips encourages branching. Light fertilizer (balanced NPK) supports leafy growth.
Flowering
6-8 weeksFunnel-shaped flowers in purple, blue, pink, or white appear abundantly along the vine. Flowers typically open in morning and close by afternoon in heat.
Continue regular watering; inconsistent water can reduce flowering. Deadheading extends bloom season, though not necessary. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to promote flowers over foliage.
Seed Development
4-6 weeksAfter flowers fade, spiky spherical seed pods form along the stems. Pods mature from green to brown and become increasingly prickly.
Allow pods to dry on vine if seeds are desired for next year. Pods naturally detach and disperse via clothing and fur. Remove plants before frost if concerned about self-seeding.
Maturation & Senescence
2-4 weeksVine slows growth and flowering as temperatures cool in fall. Foliage yellows and withers. Plant dies at first frost in most zones.
Collect mature seed pods before plant dies if desired. Remove spent plants and compost (or dispose if concerned about invasiveness). Clean up debris to reduce disease overwinter.
Common Pests
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Hand-pick early morning, use row covers early season, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap
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Spray with strong water stream, use yellow sticky traps, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil
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Increase humidity, spray with water, apply sulfur dust or miticide if severe
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Strong water spray, introduce ladybugs, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap
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Hand-pick at night, use beer traps, apply diatomaceous earth around base
Uses
Traditional Asian Food
CulinaryIn some Asian cuisines, particularly Japanese, young morning glory shoots (known as asatsuki) are eaten as a vegetable, lightly steamed or stir-fried. They have a tender texture and mild flavor similar to spinach. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalIn traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, morning glory seeds have been used for their purgative properties and to support digestive health. Modern use is limited due to safety concerns with seed compounds. [source]
Rapid Screening & Trellis Coverage
OrnamentalBeggar's lice is prized for quickly covering unsightly structures, fences, and arbors with dense foliage and abundant colorful flowers within a single growing season. It creates a lush, romantic cottage garden aesthetic. [source]
Seed Pod Collecting
CraftThe distinctive spiky seed pods are attractive for dried arrangements and craft projects. Pods can be collected, dried, and used in floral displays or as texture elements in botanical crafts. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeAbundant nectar-rich flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the blooming season, providing essential forage during mid to late summer when other flowers may be scarce. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest seeds when pods turn brown and dry on the vine, typically 4-6 weeks after flowering. Allow pods to fully mature and dry before collecting. Gently crush dry pods to extract seeds. Store seeds in cool, dry conditions; they remain viable for 3-4 years. For ornamental enjoyment, flowers peak in early morning before heat causes closure.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The common name 'beggar's lice' derives from the plant's hitchhiker seeds—the spiky seed pods naturally cling to clothing and animal fur with velcro-like efficiency, allowing seeds to disperse for miles.
- 🌱 Morning glory flowers famously open in the early morning and close by early afternoon on hot days; this nyctinastic movement is thought to protect pollen from excessive heat and drying.
- 🌱 A single plant can produce hundreds of flowers over its growing season and thousands of viable seeds, making it highly productive and self-seeding in favorable conditions.
Gardening Terms
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