Ground Morning Glory

Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus sabatius) is a trailing perennial that hugs the ground at about 20cm tall while spreading to a metre wide, covering itself in blue to mauve trumpet flowers through the warm months. It is the well mannered member of the morning glory family: it spills and carpets but does not twine, strangle or take over. For quick, soft colour over a wall, bank or bare patch, it is hard to beat for the money.

Why you'll love it

• Months of flowers. Soft blue to mauve trumpets open in flushes from spring right through the warm season, over neat trailing foliage.
• Fast, honest cover. Planted at 50cm spacings it knits into a low carpet within a season or two, one of the cheapest ways to finish a new bed.
• Thrives on tough sites. Heat, drought and salt laden coastal wind all suit it once established.
• Bees and butterflies work it. The long flowering season makes it a steady nectar source rather than a two week event.
• No thuggish habits. Unlike climbing morning glories it stays a compact, trailing groundcover you can pull back with one hand.

Where it works best

Retaining walls and slopes. This is its signature use. Planted 50cm apart along the top of a wall, it curtains down the face and softens new landscaping fast.

Groundcover and edging. Use it at the front of borders, along paths or across a sunny bank, spaced 50cm apart for a trailing carpet.

Rockeries and pots. It tumbles convincingly out of rockery pockets, troughs and baskets, and copes with the dry spells both bring.

Growing Ground Morning Glory in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings the heaviest flowering. It performs in subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and cool temperate gardens, taking light frost in its stride. In colder districts it can look tired by late winter, then refreshes quickly in spring.

Soil. Any free draining soil works, including sandy coastal ground. It resents sitting wet, so improve heavy clay with compost and plant slightly proud of the bed.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only through long dry spells. A light dressing of complete fertiliser in spring is plenty; rich feeding grows leaves at the expense of flowers.

Pruning. Shear lightly after each main flush to keep the mat dense and encourage the next round of buds. An untrimmed plant slowly goes thin in the middle.

What to expect when it arrives

You can buy Ground Morning Glory as single tubes or as 140mm pots in packs of ten. Tubes are small but establish quickly and suit big areas on a budget; the 140mm pack covers a wall or bank with much faster effect. Trailing stems can arrive a little ruffled from the box and recover within days.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Expect new runners within a few weeks in warm weather, and flowers soon after. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the groundcover range
• Plants for retaining walls and slopes
• Rockery plants for dry, sunny spots
• More plants for bees and butterflies

Common questions

Will it take over my garden like other morning glories?

No. This species is a clumping, trailing perennial, not a twining climber. It spreads to about a metre and stays put, and any stem that wanders too far can simply be trimmed off.

How far apart should I plant it?

50cm apart gives a continuous carpet within a season or two. Wider spacing still works; it just takes an extra season to close the gaps.

Is it safe for pets?

It is not sold as a pet safe plant. Plants in this family carry toxic seeds, so if you share the garden with a determined chewer it is better placed on walls and banks than in a pet run.

How does it handle frost?

Light frost only. Foliage can burn in a hard freeze, so in cold districts give it a warm, sunny position. Established plants usually reshoot from the crown in spring.