Image copyright Fennel and Fern
Bindweed is an evil plant. Its white roots snake through the soil, can reproduce from a very small section of root, and are extremely resilient. But if you have ever felt a twinge of regret as you pull down those beautiful white trumpet-like flowers, its annual cousin, Ipomoea tricolor, is here to help. Morning glory, as it is commonly known, flourishes in warmer climes as a rather bullish perennial, but in England we can grow it as a well-behaved half-hardy annual.
You can find white cultivars of Ipomoea,but the striking blue species is far more appealing.
Sow indoors in March, soaking the seeds in warm water for 24 hours first. Plant out once a good set of true leaves has emerged and the last frosts are over. The vine will be covered with a plethora of bright blue flowers every morning, which will then fade by late afternoon. For this reason, twining Morning Glory through another flowering plant is a bright idea, so that the wilted blue blooms disappear into the backdrop.
Swallowtail Garden Seeds stock a number of gorgeous Morning Glories, including white, candystriped, red and even double cultivars.
