cold climate moonflower question

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lavender4ever (Louise) Palm Bay, FL(Zone 9b) Feb 07, 2008

I have always loved moonflowers and had no luck growing them until last year. I put some seed in several spots and one spot which was the most unlikely spot they grew (compacted clay soil surrounded by cement). In fact the vine went nuts and covered the privacy fence. I was so happy with the scent and beauty! The neighborhood kids loved them too, especially in the evening when the hummingbird moths came. My question is, I saved seed but there were so many seed pods I left alot on the vines. Does anyone know if the ones left on will germinate? In my yard regular morning glories (star of yelta) come back every year from all the seed that is dropped.

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ByndeweedBeth scio, oregon, OR(Zone 8a) Feb 07, 2008

Ah, you have discovered the secret! The more limited and confined the roots are...the more likely to strive to reproduce and make seeds. You should try growing in pots!

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lavender4ever (Louise) Palm Bay, FL(Zone 9b) Feb 07, 2008

LOL go figure I have tried growing these things for YEARS! I babied them and amended the soil etc etc. I was truly shocked when they grew so well in that spot. Basically it is just a hole in the cement area near the rock ponds the previous owner put in.

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RON_CONVOLVULACEAE Netcong, NJ(Zone 5b) Feb 08, 2008

Hi lavender4ever - Yes,I concur with Beth in that sometimes root stress in the form of restricting the available space will force flowering although not always...

The Ipomoea moonvine species are not seed hardy in the colder zones ,so the seeds that dropped are not likely to sprout unless they were fully dry before the freezing temperatures and there are not repeated thaws and re-freezes...same situation applies to Ipomoea tricolor...

The dark seeded strain of Ipomoea alba
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/120337/
has been reported to flower sooner and to be more cold hardy than the more common strain with the beige/tan seeds...the 'meekerii' designation as a 'newly discovered' strain is apparently illegitimate as the dark seeded strain was available to gardeners through mailorder catalogs as early as 1932...

Hope that helps...

TTY,...

Ron

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lavender4ever (Louise) Palm Bay, FL(Zone 9b) Feb 08, 2008

Yes thank you very much!

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