How to Grow Pretty in Purple
Wikimedia Commons
Pretty in Purple
Ipomoea purpurea
vinePretty in Purple is an ornamental morning glory variety featuring deep purple flowers with contrasting white centers and throats. This vigorous annual vine produces heart-shaped foliage and blooms prolifically throughout the growing season. It's perfect for trellises, arbors, and vertical gardening to add dramatic color and texture.
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Example Pretty in Purple timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Pretty in Purple
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 Pretty in Purple
Around Jun 6≈ 50 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Pretty in Purple dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-11; grows as annual in cool climates, perennial in warmer zones
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Germination & Seedling
7-14 daysSeeds sprouting with first true leaves emerging, cotyledons visible. Seedlings develop their first heart-shaped leaves.
Soak seeds 24 hours before planting to speed germination. Keep soil warm (65-75°F) and consistently moist. Provide bright light to prevent leggy growth. Transplant when 2-3 true leaves appear.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksVigorous vine elongates rapidly with abundant heart-shaped foliage developing along stems. Plant builds strong root system and climbing structure.
Install sturdy support structure early (trellis, arbor, or stakes). Water regularly as vine expands. Pinch back tips if you want bushier growth before flowering. Feed with balanced fertilizer monthly.
Budding & Flowering Onset
1-2 weeksFirst flower buds appear at leaf axils along the vine. Deep purple buds develop, tightly coiled, ready to open.
Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage flowering over leaf growth. Continue consistent watering. Ensure support is sturdy as vine gains weight with flowers. Monitor for pests attracted to flowering vines.
Full Bloom
6-10 weeks or until frostAbundant deep purple flowers with white centers open daily in early morning, closing by midday. Continuous flowering throughout season as new buds form.
Deadhead spent flowers (optional—they naturally drop) to potentially encourage more blooms. Water at soil level to avoid wetting flowers. Feed biweekly with bloom-boosting fertilizer (higher phosphorus). Enjoys warm temperatures.
Seed Production & Season End
Until first frostAfter pollination, small seed pods develop where flowers faded. Plants slow production as temperatures cool or frost arrives. Foliage may yellow or brown.
Allow some flowers to set seed if you want self-seeding next year or to collect seeds. Stop fertilizing as season wanes. Continue watering until frost. Cut back spent vines after hard freeze.
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Introduce ladybugs. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer.
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Increase humidity by misting; spray with neem oil or miticide. Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage parasitic wasps.
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Hand-pick in early morning; use Japanese beetle traps away from plants. Apply neem oil or spinosad if severe.
Uses
Traditional Tea
CulinaryIn some cultures, morning glory flowers are brewed as an herbal tea with mild flavor notes. The petals can be used as edible garnish for desserts and salads. [source]
Traditional Herbal Medicine
MedicinalMorning glory seeds and roots have been used in traditional Asian medicine as a laxative and diuretic. Some varieties contain alkaloids with medicinal properties studied in ethnobotany. [source]
Garden Screening & Aesthetics
HouseholdPretty in Purple excels at creating natural living screens on arbors, trellises, and fences, providing privacy while adding vibrant purple color. Its rapid growth and prolific blooming make it ideal for covering unsightly structures or creating dramatic focal points. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeThe abundant morning glories attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators throughout the season. Seeds provide food for birds in late summer and fall. [source]
Pressed Flowers & Crafts
CraftThe delicate purple petals press beautifully and can be used in pressed flower art, bookmarks, and botanical crafts. The distinctive color is striking in dried arrangements. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Morning glories are grown for ornamental flowers, not harvest. Enjoy blooms throughout the season—they open at dawn and typically close by early afternoon on sunny days. For seed saving, allow a few flowers to mature into brown seed pods late in season (August-September), then collect and dry pods. Seeds can be stored for years and will self-sow next spring if left on ground.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Morning glories open their flowers in the early morning and close them by midday or during cloudy weather, earning their common name. This opening and closing cycle is triggered by light and temperature changes.
- 🌱 Pretty in Purple grows extremely rapidly—sometimes 6-12 inches per week—making it one of the fastest-growing ornamental vines for quick garden transformation.
- 🌱 Morning glory flowers typically last only one day, but the continuous production of new buds means non-stop blooms from mid-summer until first frost, potentially hundreds of flowers per plant.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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