Decorative Vine
Chocolate Morning Glory is a stunning cultivar of Ipomoea nil that brings rich, deep brown blooms to the summer garden. This tender annual vine grows vigorously in full sun across hardiness zones 2-11, producing trumpet-shaped flowers with an almost chocolate-dark coloration that catches the eye from sunrise through mid-morning. Hardy from zones 2-11 and thriving in moderate moisture with neutral to slightly acidic soil (pH 6.0-7.0), it's a showstopper for gardeners who want something beyond the typical blue or purple morning glories. The plant germinates best at warm temperatures between 70-85°F and responds particularly well to late outdoor sowing, timing that ensures vigorous, floriferous plants rather than weak early starters.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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The deep chocolate tone of these flowers is genuinely unusual in the morning glory world, offering a rich warmth that photographs beautifully and creates striking contrast against green foliage. Unlike early-started seedlings that often struggle, this variety thrives when you wait to sow until the soil is genuinely warm. The vining growth habit makes it a natural choice for trellises and arbors, where the abundant blooms open with the morning light and close by afternoon. Growing it from seed is straightforward, and whether you start indoors or direct sow at the right moment, you'll be rewarded with prolific flowering from midsummer through frost.
Chocolate Morning Glory is grown primarily as an ornamental flowering vine for gardens, arbors, and trellises where its dramatic chocolate-hued blooms can be displayed throughout the summer season.
Sow seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your transplant date. Use biodegradable pots that can go directly into the ground, since morning glories dislike root disturbance. Keep soil at 70-85°F for germination. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and keep soil consistently moist until sprouting.
Transplant outdoors 4 to 6 weeks after indoor sowing, ideally after your average last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 6-12 inches apart. Set biodegradable pots directly in the ground to minimize root damage.
Direct sow outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, when soil is warm. This timing produces more vigorous plants than early indoor starting. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep directly where you want them to grow.
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