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Weed guide
Blue morning glory
Ipomoea indica · Morning glory family (Convolvulaceae)
Also called purple morning glory (NSW), oceanblue morning glory (USA).
Illustration
A vigorous vine with big blue-purple trumpet flowers that can smother trees and bushland. It regrows from any stem piece that touches soil, so cut it carefully, dig out the crown, and never dump the cuttings.
How to spot it
- Hairy, twining stems that can climb up to 15 m.
- Heart-shaped or deeply three-lobed pointed leaves, 4–17 cm long, silky underneath.
- Blue-purple funnel flowers 6–8 cm across, in clusters of 3–12 on long stalks; each lasts a day and fades to pink by the afternoon.
- A woody crown at the base, with stems rooting wherever they touch the ground.
Easily confused with
Field bindweed
Much smaller flowers, about 2 cm across, white or pale pink.
Common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
An annual with smaller flowers, 3–7 cm across.
Coastal morning glory (Ipomoea cairica)
Leaves divided into five to seven lobes.
Where it's a problem
- Australia: A significant environmental weed in Queensland, NSW and Victoria; in NSW everyone has a general duty to limit its spread.
- New Zealand: A National Pest Plant Accord species: you must not breed, distribute, release or sell it.
- Southern Africa: A listed invasive species that must be controlled.
- USA: Native to Florida; established in California and Hawaii.
- United Kingdom: Grown as a tender plant under glass.
What to do
- Cut the climbing stems and leave the upper parts hanging to die, making sure no cut stem touches the soil.
- Dig out the crown and roots carefully: pieces left in the ground regrow.
- Mulch heavily over the area and follow up on any regrowth.
- Never dump the cuttings: slashed stems resprout wherever they land.
If you use a herbicide, choose one labelled for blue morning glory and follow the label and local rules. Painting freshly cut stems is a common method.
Follow your local council's guidance for disposing of weeds. Councils usually advise against putting weeds like this in the green waste / vegetation bin or the compost.
Take care: Its seeds are poisonous if eaten, and it may be mildly poisonous to livestock.
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Sources
- NSW DPI WeedWise: Purple morning glory
- Weeds Australia: Purple morning glory
- Brisbane City Council: Morning glory
- Weedbusters NZ: Blue morning glory
- Auckland Council: Blue morning glory
- RHS: Ipomoea indica
Facts checked Sunday 27 September 2026. General guidance only: follow your local council, agency and product label.