Do Morning Glories Come Back Every Year? (A Guide)

Morning Glories are mysterious plants because they grow, flower, and die in a single growing season.

Typically you plant them in the spring, watch them grow all summer, and then watch their beautiful flowers fade by fall. 

But when winter arrives do these annuals return to life?

Can morning glories be saved so that you can enjoy their beautiful blue flowers again next year?

When Morning Glory plant flowers have finished blooming, the root system of this plant will die off too before it can create another stalk that could generate more flowers for another growing season. 

Morning Glories and How They Bloom

Basically what happens with morning glories is similar to what happens with your tulips in the fall if you didn’t give them the proper care they need.

If you want to try and save them, make sure the plant has died off and cannot be revived. 

Sometimes, this process can take up to a full year before it is officially safe for you to remove the root system since morning glories tend to put down deep roots.

There are many reasons why people want their morning glories back every year. One reason is that they love those beautiful blue flowers that brighten up any home or garden during late summer and into fall. 

The other reason people like morning glories is because they keep all of its vines together so it’s easier for them to contain them under one space rather than spread around all over your yard where they can take over other areas and possibly cause trouble for your other landscaping.

If you’re a morning glory lover, then you can try growing them from cuttings or seeds instead.

You can purchase these seeds and even grow them in your home so they don’t get the chance to spread all over your yard like wildfire since they will be confined to one small area with no chance of spreading. 

These types of perennials will only return every year if you take the vines and replant them into soil that is similar to what they were planted before since most annuals tend to prefer certain types of soil that make it easier for them to grow and produce flowers and fruits.

As an alternative, you can also plant other colorful annuals in your but keep the morning glories around as a border to your garden. 

This way you will still have these flowers as an accent but won’t have to worry about them taking over your entire yard with their vines and roots. 

Just make sure that the area where morning glories are planted receives at least six hours of sunlight each day so it can thrive despite having no root system in the winter months.

When it comes down to it, there is nothing wrong with trying to save your morning glories since they return every year if you take good care of them and replant their vines into soil that is similar to what they were before. 

They’re beautiful plants that deserve second chances especially because of how many people love them for being such hard workers in the garden by doing all the climbing and pretty much conquering where they are planted.

But if you can’t find the time to replant them, or simply don’t care about saving morning glories every year then you should always make sure that the root system is completely dead before removing it from your yard.

This is because these plants are known to be very aggressive in terms of spreading their vines all over other parts of your garden just so they could try and create another beautiful summer flower for people to admire.

If you’re not a morning glory lover, then it’s best not to deal with the trouble.

Morning glories are lovely vines that are easy to grow but can also be quite difficult to control once they take over your garden.

Let’s focus on annual morning glories (those plants that live for one season) because these tend not to present the same problems as their perennial cousins. 

While there are many different opinions regarding when or whether or not it’s a good idea to cut annual morning glory vines back in the fall, I’m afraid I’t have an entirely definitive answer.

However, in general, I would suggest that you do not cut morning glories back in the fall. The reasons for this are two: 

1. Very few plants look their best when they’ve been cut back before winter sets in; 
2. Some vines need to spend much of their energy storing up food reserves for next spring’s flowers or fruit production. 

Thus, cutting them back at the end of summer could actually lessen next year’s blooms by depriving your plants of important resources.

I should point out that there is some leeway on the “you don’t cut it back” rule: Morning Glory vines can handle a fair amount of pruning and trimming throughout the growing season and even appreciate occasional shaping and grooming. 

Just be sure you’re not performing any major pruning, as it’s usually best to leave the majority of your vine intact for as long as possible. 

Some gardeners like to cut back their vines in late summer or early fall (usually around Labor Day), which gives them a more manageable look and also helps prevent them from taking over nearby plants.

It is, however, important that you remove morning glory vines and seed pods before they mature and drop their seeds onto the ground. 

Hand-pulling or hoeing out seedlings can be effective if done before they begin flowering or set seed.

It is especially important to keep young morning glories pulled up so they won’t spread quickly by roadsides and other wild areas where you don’t want them to take root.

I should point out that vines like clematis and honeysuckle also appreciate a little thinning and attention to their growth habits in the fall, although they aren’t as susceptible to weed problems or spreading as fast as morning glory vines. 

I’m afraid the answer here is the same: If you don’t mind cutting your vines back before winter sets in, go ahead and do it; otherwise, wait until spring when you can prune your vines with impunity.

How Long Do Morning Glories Last?

The length of time that morning glories last depends on the type of morning glory. Some types may last only a few days, while others may live for more than a month under the right conditions.

Most varieties of morning glories will remain “alive” for approximately two weeks if they are kept indoors in ideal conditions.

Outdoors, some varieties can survive for longer than 2 months during certain seasons of the year. 

Most types sprout soon after their seeds are planted and then die out within several weeks to several months depending on the species.

Common ways to extend the longevity of morning glories include planting them in shaded areas or near trees instead of direct sunlight, fertilizing regularly, and keeping fresh moisture sources near the flowers.

A few types of morning glories are known for being annual plants, meaning they only last through one growing season before dying out naturally. 

Other varieties are considered to be biennials or perennials, which means they return year after year with proper care. The following is an overview of how long each sub-group tends to last:

• Annual morning glories typically sprout within one month after being planted and then fade away approximately six weeks later. 

Examples of common annual species include “Ipomoea purpurea” (purple morning glory) and “Ipomoea tricolor” (Heavenly Blue Morning Glory). Annual morning glories should be ideally planted in early spring so they will be ready for the summer months.

• Perennial morning glories tend to last longer than their annual cousins, with some species living up to three years if they receive proper care and nutrients. 

Examples of common perennial species include “Ipomoea alba” (moonflower) and “Ipomoea nil” (Japanese morning glory). 

Perennials typically require a lot of sunlight and ample moisture in order to thrive, so planting them near a garden or other natural source of these elements can help guarantee a long life cycle.

• Biennial types grow for two years before dying out once the plant reaches maturity during the second growing season. These plants are hardier annuals but not as long-lived as perennials. 

As a result, biennial morning glories should ideally be planted in early to mid-spring and again the following fall.

In short, most types of morning glory live for approximately 1-3 months during their natural growth period.

However, certain species may last longer if they are grown indoors where environmental factors can be monitored and controlled.

Morning Glories Re-blooming: Conclusion

Morning glory flowers typically do not re-bloom every year with the exception of a few varieties.

The most common variety is Ipomoea tricolor or morning glories, which can grow to be 30 feet tall in some climates and have large, showy flowers in white, lavender, purple and blue that attract butterflies. 

In many locations where this vine grows indoors as a houseplant, it will only bloom once per season at the beginning of summer when grown from seed.

However, there are some varieties that will re-bloom again later in the summer if provided with more light and fertilizer.