MG Suggestions for Tree Trunk

I have two very mature pin oak trees in the backyard that I would love to have MG grow on. The tree trunks get a fair amount of direct sunlight during the day, at least on the lower 15'. Will this be sufficient for the vine to thrive? If so will the vine get good hold on the bark?

In looking at the various photos I'm leaning toward seeds of Crimson Rambler as I love the foliage and I'd like to introduce something other than purple & white (I'm currently growing and/or hope to grow Star of Yelta, Moonflower and an Indica variety).

Lastly, I have dogs, one of them a very curious one who prefers to taste-test rather than just sniff things. I need a vine that isn't wholly poisonous like many of the nil varieties seem to be. We had no problems with him and last year's Indica and Grannyvine.

Thanks,
Tara

Most all of the MG family are toxic, but my seven dogs never touch them and I grow them all over my yard. I don't think you'd have a problem with your dogs/

Gosh I would hate if anything happened, but like Beth I have multiple dogs and multiple MGs. Never had a problem and my Bulldog has pretty bad allergies. I really think they have to ingest a numerous amount for them to be a problem especially if they are large dogs.

I always thought it was just the seeds that were toxic. Flowers, leaves and stems too?

X

Here's a pic of a (dead) tree that I nailed pots to and planted Heavenly Blue in. (There's one pot on the ground, and three nailed to the tree and supported with bamboo sticks).

I had hoped they would climb higher but I discovered that they really do need their own support system (don't we all?!LOL) to wrap themselves around. This year I will probably use thick twine or maybe even garden netting.

Maybe the photo will give you some of your own ideas!

Sandy

Sandy that is such a great idea. I wish I had a dead tree!!

X, as far as I know all parts of the common MG are considered poisonous. Ipomoea aquatica and Ipomoea batatas aren't, but I don't think scfundogs is looking for that type of morning glory.

Sandy that's a great idea! I'll try your idea on one of the trees and sow seeds in the ground on the other. Hopefully I'll remember to water the pots!

I like the tree trunks, I just want to have more varieties of morning glory and there's only so much vertical space :) I suspect this is the start of an obsession...that can't be good.

Tara

The most common 'toxins' in MG's are purgatives...the foliage has a lower concentration of alkaloids than the seeds,but there are no documented cases of any dogs or cats being seriously poisoned by eating any MG's...the alkaloids have a strong effect on the entire gastro-intestinal tract which makes them puke or have loose bowel movements very quickly...

TTY,...

Ron

This message was edited Mar 14, 2007 8:32 AM

Hi again Ron! Thanks for clarifying the toxin issue. Its good to know that MGs aren't deadly if ingested. This opens up many new possibilities :)

Hi Tara,
I nail an old piece of wire fence on my garage for the MGs to climb, and then pull the whole thing down in the winter. Maybe you could wrap each trunk loosely with some kind of mesh (the black mesh to keep birds off of fruit trees is not highly visible) and secure it at the top. That would give them plenty to hang on to, assuming that your dog is not willing to eat plastic ;)

Hi Katlian, thanks for the suggestion. I was thinking of something similar myself. The way I got them to cover my privacy fence was by screwing small stainless steel cleats every 20" on the top rails of each 8' section and one cleat in the center of the bottom rail. I made a large fan shape using twine and the MGs thrived on it. I was thinking of doing similar with the tree trunk.

As for the dog, Buoy will eat anything. If he decides its inedible then he'll just shred it. My two girls are angels, its just Buoy-Scissor-Mouth I have problems with. I've been trying to think of ways I can put his teeth to better use, say to make mulch!

Tara

I thought I read a story where kids in texas were grinding up the flowers to get stoned. I wouldn't worry about a dog dying. Maybe stoned. I have two dogs and MG's never had a problem.

As far as growing up a tree, a little string tied around it and dangling down will help them climb.

I heard if you eat about 12 Mg seeds its like some kind of drug and you see things!! .... I think a talking pig told me.
Mike

The subject of the seeds potentially used as intentional recreational devices and/or as unintended toxins was previously addressed in these threads here
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/600484/

and here
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/vines/msg0712000429469.html

I'd like to clarify that an animal that might simply chew without actually swallowing is not the same as> eating which involves swallowing...

a zoological dentation reminder is that the pointed molars of carnivores are not capable of the same type of mastication that the relatively flat topped molars of vegetarian animals possess...and the embryo of the seeds are mainly composed of carbohydrates/starches which are relatively poorly digested by pure carnivores...


Hope that this is helpful to the overall fund of reference knowledge on the subject...

TTY,...

Ron

scfundogs,
This might also be what you are looking for:
http://convolvulaceae.home.comcast.net/Convolvulaceae/treetrellis/
and
http://convolvulaceae.home.comcast.net/Convolvulaceae/Ipomoea_indica/
and
http://convolvulaceae.home.comcast.net/Convolvulaceae/Ipomoea_alba/index.html
although you can probably do just as well by nailing chicken wire to the tree.