Morning Glory species and how they interbreed?

I'm very new to Morning Glories, but they seem to like the conditions here so I'd like to grow more.
At the moment I have purple ones, which I assume to be I purpurea (they came from a local school sale), and Heavenly Blue (bought seed packet) which I see from the PF is I tricolor. The purple ones self seed all over the place, but I have never had Heavenly Blue self seed (I even collected seed from those I thought were HB pods) and have to buy afresh each year. Is this because the I purpurea is dominant and the seeds on the HB are being 'taken over'?
What is the best way to get a good selection of colours/types to give interest (I'm hoping to get away from 'just purple' lol)

I'd be very grateful for any thoughts

HB should seed....are you sure you don't have Ocean Blue instead?

Well it had seed heads but all the seed I saved turned out to have purple flowers.
What would Ocean Blue do?
The most recent seed I've bought is French and just has a pic on the packet that looks like HB, so perhaps it isn't. It certainly has wonderful blue flowers. http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/98992/

Can you show me a picture of your leaves? I. tricolor and I. purpurea won't interbreed, so it is not a matter of them both producing seeds and the purple being dominant. Ocean blue (I. indica) rarely sets seed, but just spreads by runners.

This message was edited Jul 2, 2007 10:08 AM

I haven't managed to get any HB to germinate this year, but have bought a pot full of blue flowered Ipomaea, unlabelled. Looking at the fading flowers I don't believe it is HB as they have a purplish midrib on the petals, not noticeable on the open flower.
These leaves look the same as the I purpurea.

Th main difference I have noticed is that the I purpurea are much hairier before they reach maturity, but otherwise look very similar.
Unfortunately my puter died that has the pics of the leaves from seed that was labelled HB, but in memory I think they looked similar apart from lacking the fuzz as babies.

Hard to say, but Ocean Blue turn purple towards the end of the day.

Sorry I've just seen what you say about Ocean Blue. I've always grown from seed, so don't think it can be Ocean Blue that I had.

You've certainly answered my question in letting me know that the 2 spp won't interbreed, thanks :)
In that case I will be much more careful when collecting the seed and hope to get some viable HB.
I'll try sowing some from a packet I have and see what happens, even if it is late in the season. Autumn goes on for ever here, so they may well do OK.

How do the leaves of the 2 spp differ?

Indica is more of a lobed leaf. Indica does sometimes make seed (I have some) but more usually spreads by runners.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/47837/

This message was edited Jul 2, 2007 11:53 AM

Here are indica seeds:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/139249/

Oh no Beth, I haven't got or ever had leaves like that.
Thanks so much for your time and trouble.

Have no fear then, your purpurea and tricolor won't interbreed. Hope you get seeds this year.

Thanks so much for all your help.
I'll let you know ;o)

Philomel - My impression is that you had both Ipomoea purpurea and Ipomoea tricolor growing intertwined together and that you collected your seeds from the Ipomoea purpurea pods thinking that the I.purpurea pods might be the I.tricolor...which resulted in all of the plants that germinated being I.purpurea...

Ipomoea tricolor seedpods tend to ripen later than the usually earlier ripening I.purpurea...also Ipomoea purpurea seeds will survive a cold wet winter whereas Ipomoea tricolor seeds will turn to mush if they get too cold before they have fully ripened...Ipomoea tricolor seeds will not survive cold wet weather,but Ipomoea purpurea seeds will survive repeated cold wet weather...

Ipomoea purpurea has hair on the various plant parts whereas Ipomoea tricolor is always completely glabrous...

Ipomoea purpurea sepals
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/22914/
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/146083/

Ipomoea purpurea seedpods reflexing
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/132998/
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/31407/

Ipomoea tricolor flowerbuds and developing seedpods...the sepals are uniformly thin and remain flush up against the flower base and seedpods
http://davesgarden.com/forums/p.php?pid=3643880
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/106781/


Some more indepth photos and explanations of the relevant ID structures of the most commonly grown MG species e.g., Ipomoea hederacea,Ipomoea nil,Ipomoea purpurea and Ipomoea tricolor
http://davesgarden.com/forums/p.php?pid=3504567

Hope this info helps...

TTY,...

Ron


P.S. - Photo attached of Ipomoea tricolor immature seedpods but remaining erect...

Indeed that info is very helpful, thanks so much Ron!
This explains why none of the HB have come from self sown seed - our winters are cold and wet! The I purpurea on the other hand seeds around with gay abandon.

I see from your links that I am not the first to have been puzzled by the differences ;o)
I'm very grateful that you have taken the time and effort to answer my question so fully. Now I can have fun getting to know the family better.