Growing Cardinal Vine (annual) from Seed

Hi,
Does the cardinal vine need a cold period (like a morning glory) before it will germinate?
It is a cross of a morning glory, but I bought and only have something like 10 seeds so dont want to lose any :)

I have grown these for years and they do not need a cold period, but they will germinate faster if you soak them first. I keep my seeds in the fridge year round so n a way all of mine get cold treatment, but I have opened the packs of seed upon delivery and germinated them. And I see no literature that states that they need a cold period.

What will help is soaking them, at least overnight. Last year I soaked all of my morning glory seeds until they started to crack open a bit. You can actually wait until they sprout - just handle them carefully.

Thanks, Donna!
I guess what I was afraid of was winter sowing and the cold harming the seed.
So you soak them and start indoors?

I soak them, and as soon as I can see them germinating I move them carefully to their final locations. You really don't need to winter sow them - it has no useful purpose. Most seeds of any type of morning glory require temperatures closer to 70 to germinate and grow. Looking at my records, I soak my morning glories in June. They need warmth to grow. If you put them out now they will just sit there. And there is the possibility that they will be eaten. You onlyhave ten seeds, so you want to make the most of them.

I agree with Donna - wait until it is warm enough to set out heat-loving annuals, and soak your seed overnight. You can start them indoors, but only 1-2 weeks earlier than you would start them outdoors, because vines outgrow their pots so fast.

Cardinal Flower Vine, Ipomea sloteri. Is this the vine that is being discussed?

If so, I have this vine. It drives me nuts. I have to pull and pull it out and yet, I can't get all of it. I am sure my hummers like it, but I have to really do a lot of puling it out to keep it half way under control. If you want some, I can send it to you when it sprouts for postage.

Birder, yes, it seems to be one in the same. I just checked the (sampleseed) website where I purchased it.

I noticed today that Swallowtail has a different variety: Ipomoea x multifida
According to that webtie, It is a cross of the Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) and Scarlet morning glory (Ipomoea coccinea).

This is my first year growing morning glories and this cardinal flower vine (as well as moon flower vine). I am experimenting as to how they do, and was thinking of planting most (esp'lly morning glory) in planters to try and control them taking over. There is a happy medium for me...I want plenty of flowers and would love them to come back, but dont want them taking over my garden bed.

I MIGHT take you up on your offer if mine dont sprout well...and/or for extra. Can I reserve the right til I see how my planting goes and what I have room for? (Hoping my first WS'ing is a huge success and I have trouble finding room for everything! LOL) I WS'd 1/2 the seeds,a nd will try planting the others directly in the planter for which they are planned. I was going to put some in the back of a new garden bed, but now I'm rethinking that if they take over so profusely!

There are differences in vines that have similar names. I have never had a problem with aggressiveness, but for heaven's sake don't plant "Grandpa Otts' morning glory. It's the only one I have found that's invasive. And it climbs other plants and pulls them down. And it's impossible to get rid of. It's famous because it is the seed that was the foundation of the Seed Savers Exchange

One has almost palm shaped leaved (my favorite) and one has fringy leaves.

According to the Fragrant Path catalog (I have been purchasing from them since 1996 and highly recommend them. You cannot order on line but they are dirt cheap, have very inexpensive shipping and ask you for "alternates" - and you always get them in addition to your order) this is the description of Scarlett Starglory - my personal favorite:

"This carefree and vigorous climber goes to ten feet or more in a hurry. It has fairly large heart-shaped leaves and bears its small scarlet flowers in profusion on long stalks from July to October. Very attractive to hummingbirds. aka ipomoea coccinea"

Then there is Red Cypress Vine, which is ipomoea Quamocuit. This is the fringy one. Some people sell it as Cardinal Climber.

"After a long absence we are listing this delightfully delicate climber again–most catalogs that list it are actually selling Cardinal Climber as that is what is available from wholesalers and even they seem to be somewhat confused nomenclaturally. The daintiest of vines but vigorous nonetheless."

It come in white and a mix.

And then there is another: the real Cardinal Climber: ipomoea x multifida

"This is a cross between I. quamoclit and I. coccinea a mixed-up genus if there ever was one. It has handsome dark green deeply lobed leaves, and flowers like miniature morning glories, cardinal scarlet in color and produced in great abundance. A vigorous grower of reserved elegance, it should be used more than it is."

So you see there are three different, and similar ones.

Invasive alert: do not grow Grandpa Otts. It gets away from you! Grows into shrubs! Picture three is bayberries on the other side of the house!) Japanese beetles chew it. Impossible to eradicate!!!!!

VERY interesting as someone just traded me and sent Grandpa Ott seeds! Hmmmmm.....
It's a lovely color, but now I'm shaking in my boots :) Havent planted it yet, though!! :o)
Thanks for the heads up

It's really beautiful, but my attempts to contain it were unsuccessful. This guy is a survivor. It spread all over the place. I have probably grown a dozen different morning glories and this one got really out of control. The worst part is that it pulls down other plants.

One that I could not grow in my old yard but which is lovely and behaves well in my new home is Blue Star. I am starting a rose Dublin Bay on a trellis and wanted something to fill the trellis. It did so beautifully.

I think whether or not it gets invasive depends on your location. I haven't tried Grandpa Otts (& now I don't think I will) but I have never had any trouble with any of the red ones seeding back (I have tried several from several sources). Heavenly Blue (from a local source) does best here and seeds back modestly. Moonvine seemed the hardest to germinate & had the fewest seeds per packet - I would recommend saving seeds from that one for sure.

I was wondering about location as well even tho all 3 of us are zone 5.....dames rocket looks so nice...like phlox....but appears they are invasive here in MA (just one example)
Forewarned, tho...I will proceed with caution

One I have never been able to grow is Scarlett O'Hara (RED!) even if I germinated it first. I got staggering Heavenly Blues near the lakefront in Chicago - they are more modest here.

I only once had major success with Moonvine. It grew to a great height, threw out gorgeous leaves and budded - and then the frost date hit! For some reason, there ar always very few seeds.

Some one else gave me what they thought were the seeds, but they turned out to be datura - the short white one - and it was lovely too.

If you are on the edge I can send you some more scary pictures of Grabdpa Otts...

Aahh, yes, Cypress Vine, Impomea quamoclit, that's the one I have! Thanks Donna, for the information and clearing that up. I couldn't believe anyone wanted that one. I'm sure there's those that like it. My neighbor gave it to me and grows it (all over and I mean ALL OVER) her front porch. I haven't been able to get rid of it.

I grew Moonvine and Morning Glory 'Pearly Gates" from seed. I put it on an arch. I had blooms day and night. It was beautiful, but the Moonvine was so agressive it grew across the arch and you couldn't walk under it. I would cut it back by just cutting into the vine and making it clear enough to walk under it-not worrying about where I cut the vines. I haven't grown it since.

I also grew some Scarlet O'Hara for hummers. I have had morning glories coming up everywhere ever since which was 20 years ago. I let the vines grow in my wild forest backyard area. The vines have mostly returned to Heavenly Blue. They are pretty, but I have to keep them in the wild area. Birds plant them everywhere.

If I had it to do over, I would Not plant any morning glory. It's just too aggressive in my yard. I know others really like it, but it doesn't work for me. I think they are very pretty, but even pretty doesn't remain pretty if it becomes a thug.

So interesting....how much of a difference a region can have and I wouldn't call Missouri much of a difference zone wise!

So, valal, I believe I have a different vine than your seeds. IF you would like to have some of the Impomea quamoclit, let me know for spring delivery. It's always good when we can clear up what plants we are talking about by using the scientific names.

THANK YOU, Birder. I appreciate the offer, but you've kind of scared me to try it!

You're right:
Sampleseeds says
Ipomoea sloteri aka Ipomoea multifida (Cardinal Climber) IpoSlo
This vine has bright red, hummingbird attracting flowers. The leaves are really neat looking too. This plant is often confused with Ipomoea quamoclit (Cypress Vine) which has very thin leaves. It grows quickly to over 6′ tall.

So the one I bought is the latter one Donna mentions, which is often confused with the one you have.

valal: I don't blame you! I don't want it either! :)

LOL!!! :-)

You too are really funny! Happy to help.