How to Grow Grandiflora Blue
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Grandiflora Blue
Ipomoea × multifida 'Grandiflora Blue'
vineGrandiflora Blue is a stunning ornamental vine featuring large, deeply lobed blue flowers with delicate, feathery foliage. This hybrid morning glory relative produces abundant blooms throughout the warm season and climbs quickly via twining stems. It's a tender perennial typically grown as an annual in temperate climates.
When should you plant Grandiflora Blue in your zone?
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Example Grandiflora Blue timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Grandiflora Blue
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 Grandiflora Blue
Around Jun 6≈ 50 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Grandiflora Blue dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9-11; grown as annual elsewhere
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Seedling
2-3 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves; feathery foliage beginning to show characteristic lobed shape.
Keep soil moist; provide warm temperatures (70-85°F). Use grow lights if starting indoors. Avoid overwatering to prevent damping-off.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksVigorous vine development with increasingly lobed, fern-like foliage; twining stems extending rapidly.
Install sturdy support structure (trellis, arbor). Keep fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Pinch tips to encourage branching.
Budding
1-2 weeksFirst flower buds forming at leaf axils; plant reaching full vigor with dense foliage.
Maintain consistent watering. Switch to slightly higher phosphorus fertilizer to encourage flowering. Ensure support is sturdy.
Flowering
6-12 weeks (spring through frost)Abundant large blue flowers (2-3 inches) with delicate star-like petals and feathery centers blooming continuously.
Continue regular watering and feeding. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Watch for pests attracted to flowers.
Decline/Frost
Variable; until first hard frostFoliage yellows and blooms diminish as temperatures cool below 50°F in fall.
In zones 9-11, plant may persist; elsewhere treat as annual and prepare for frost. Collect seeds if desired before killing frost.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to dislodge; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe. Increase humidity to deter.
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Yellow sticky traps; neem oil or insecticidal soap spray on undersides of leaves every 7-10 days.
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Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs.
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Hand-pick in early morning; use pheromone traps away from plant. Neem oil as preventative.
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Remove debris and mulch that harbor them. Beer traps; copper barriers; hand-picking at night.
Uses
Edible Flowers
CulinaryThe large blue flowers are edible and can be used fresh in salads or as garnish for desserts and beverages. They add striking visual appeal and mild, slightly sweet flavor to dishes. [source]
Ornamental Vine Screen
HouseholdExcellent for covering unsightly structures, arbors, and fences with continuous blooms. The dense foliage and prolific flowers create a living wall of color throughout warm months. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeAttracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies with abundant nectar-rich flowers. Provides excellent food source during peak blooming season. [source]
Cut Flowers and Dried Arrangements
CraftLarge, striking blue flowers work well in fresh arrangements when picked early morning. Can be dried for pressed flower crafts and botanical art projects. [source]
Harvest Tips
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to promote continuous blooming throughout the season. To collect seeds: allow some flowers to mature; collect seed pods when dry and brown. For cut flowers, pick in early morning when flowers first open; they typically close by afternoon.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Grandiflora Blue is a hybrid derivative of Ipomoea multifida, a Central American native vine sometimes called Mexican morning glory or cardinal climber hybrid.
- 🌱 The flowers typically close by early afternoon, following a circadian rhythm tied to sunlight—part of the classic behavior of morning glory relatives.
- 🌱 Unlike traditional morning glories, Grandiflora Blue's deeply lobed, feathery foliage resembles fern fronds, making it ornamental even without flowers.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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