Grandpa Otts Morning Glory
Also known as: Ipomoea purpurea 'Grandpa Otts'
Poisonous — do not eat
What's special about Grandpa Otts Morning Glory
Heirloom with deep purple blooms and a red star throat; vigorous and reliable.
Growing this variety
Grandpa Otts Morning Glory follows the same growing basics as Morning Glory. Variety-specific maturity above; everything else below applies to the whole Morning Glory family.
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Nick seeds and soak overnight. Direct sow at the base of a fence, trellis, or arbor after frost danger passes. Thin to strongest seedlings and guide vines onto supports.
Pre-sow treatment
Nick seed coat with a file and soak in warm water 12–24 hours for fastest germination.
Grower's tip
Fast-growing twining vine with trumpet-shaped blooms that open in the morning. Some species self-sow aggressively — check local invasiveness before planting.
Soil preferences
Well-drained soil with steady moisture at the root zone.
6.0–7.0
Compost at planting; go easy on nitrogen or you get all leaf and no flower or fruit.
Watering
Even moisture through flowering and fruiting; vines dry out fast on a sunny wall.
Soaker or drip at the base — never onto the canopy.
Overwatered: yellow lower leaves, mildew. Underwatered: curled tips, dropped flowers.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the soil line with drip or soaker — tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and most veg resent wet leaves (blight, mildew, rust). Bottom-water only during seed-starting until transplants are rooted through.
Temperature tolerance
70–85°F (21–29°C) for annual vines; hardy woody vines are much broader
55–70°F (13–21°C)
Annual vines are frost-tender; woody perennial vines are hardy to their rated zone.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
5–15 gal (19–57 L) with a trellis anchored to the pot or wall
Potted vines dry out daily in heat — plan for it before you plant.
Detailed harvesting
Nothing here is harvested for the kitchen. Wear gloves for any cutting or deadheading, keep the sap off your skin and eyes, and wash your hands and tools afterwards.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Do not dry, store or preserve any part of this plant near food. Bag prunings for the bin — never compost them where animals browse, and never burn them.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Ornamental only — this plant is poisonous and has no food, tea or home-remedy use. Grow it for looks, wear gloves, and keep it away from children, pets and livestock.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Insect-pollinated for most species.
Isolate or bag flowers to keep a strain true.
Let pods or fruit ripen fully on the vine, then clean and dry the seed.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for morning glory in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Grandpa Otts Morning Glory Morning Glory notes
Grandpa Otts Morning Glory Morning Glory seeds on hand
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Other Morning Glory varieties
Early Call Morning Glory
70 daysCompact variety with ruffled blooms in mixed colors; good for containers.
Common Morning-Glory
65 daysClassic climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves and trumpet flowers in purple, pink, or white.
Heavenly Blue Morning Glory
70 daysBeloved sky-blue blooms with white throats on tall vines; the most iconic morning glory.