Morning Glory

Phabitis nil

The birth flower for April 1

Location: Aqua
Location: Aqua
Location: Hokkaido
Location: Chiba
Location: Mizuho Yanagishita Productions
Location: National Museum of Japanese History 'Botanical Garden'
Location: Kiba Park
Location: Kiba Park
Location: Toyama prefecture
Location: Kiyosumi Shirakawa
Location: Toyama prefecture
Location: Kiyosumi Shirakawa
Location: Kiyosumi Shirakawa
Location: Chiba
Location: Illust:Yuki @Kagiken (Science&Technology Inst.co.,Tokyo )

Flower name
Morning Glory
Scientific name
Phabitis nil
AliasMorning Glory, 朝顔, 牽牛花
Place of originTropical Asia
Place of floweringGarden, Potted flower
Flowering seasonJune, July, August, September, October
Language of flowersBonds of affection

What is Morning Glory

Birth flowers for Apr 14, Jul 6, Aug 6

The birth flower for April 14 is , Morning Glory (Ipomoea nil)
A drop of flowers and poetry, one each day. From Kagiken's Flower Guide, we deliver words that bloom softly in your heart.
Aqua (Waterdrop Poetry), Copilot (Illustration), Editing & Translation: Mizuho @Kagiken.

Morning Glory (Ipomoea nil), Illustration by Copilot.
Note: The Japanese text in the illustration has the same meaning as Aqua's water droplet poem.
Aqua is a water spirit.

💧The White Morning Glory,
A Morning Flower, Straight and Gentle”

By Aqua

A single morning dewdrop
Gently placed upon it, the flower blooms
On that pure white petal
Yesterday’s dreams shine through
Those feelings I couldn’t tell anyone
Unraveling, carried by the wind
The dewdrop knows your wish
So today, too, it blooms gently
A straightforward, gentle morning flower

💧Aqua’ｓMemo
White morning glories—
They seem to catch the morning light directly
And whisper, “It’ll be okay today,”
So every time I see them, I feel a sense of relief…💧☀️

I tried to capture the transparency of the white morning glories,
Their gentle, comforting presence,
And the feeling of celebrating the start of a new morning☀️💧

Variegated Morning Glory

Among morning glories, there are unique varieties known as Variegated Morning Glories.
kinantenbashiro--botan

Unique varieties of Morning Glory. Left: 'Kinan Tenba Shiro Botan', Right: 'Ki-jaku Houkeisokuryouha Beniiro Botan'

“Variegated Morning Glory” – The Eccentric Among Morning Glories

These morning glories have unusually shaped or colored flowers and leaves. They have a captivating charm.

Featured: Variegated Morning Glory

Morning Glory (Ipomoea nil) is a climbing annual vine native to tropical Asia and belongs to the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae, genus Ipomoea.
It is also called "Kengyuka" in Japanese and "Japanese Morning Glory" in English.
It is commonly used in gardens and educational settings.

The vine length ranges from 100 to 300 cm, and it is grown with supports to enjoy its flowers.
The leaves are lance-shaped, with smooth edges, and grow alternately.
From June to October, it blooms trumpet-shaped flowers early in the morning from a dichasium and wilts before noon.
The flower diameter is 5–20 cm. The original flower color is pale blue, but numerous cultivars now exist in pale blue, blue, violet, reddish purple, red, pink, and white.
It has 3 carpels and 5 stamens.
After blooming, the carpels form a dry capsule.

Origin of the Name

The Japanese name "Asagao" (Morning Face) comes from the fact that it blooms in the morning and closes by the afternoon.
The genus name Ipomoea comes from Latin ipo (worm) + homoios (like), referring to its twining habit.
The species name nil means “indigo,” representing the typical flower color.

Flower Language

Its symbolic meaning is “bonds of affection,” derived from how its vines cling tightly.

Which belongs to a different family?

A common question is: Among "Asagao" (Morning Glory), "Hirugao" (Bindweed), "Yugao" (Bottle Gourd), and "Yorugao" (Moonflower), which belongs to a different family?

Answer:
Ipomoea nil (Asagao) = Convolvulaceae, genus Ipomoea

Calystegia japonica (Hirugao) = Convolvulaceae, genus Calystegia

Lagenaria siceraria var. hispida (Yugao) = Cucurbitaceae, genus Lagenaria

Ipomoea alba (Yorugao) = Convolvulaceae, genus Ipomoea

Thus, Morning Glory, Bindweed, and Moonflower are all in the same family, but Bottle Gourd is from a different one.
So the answer is: Yugao.

Yugao produces kampyo, used in sushi rolls.

From left to right: Morning Glory, Bindweed, Bottle Gourd, Moonflower

Haiku Featuring Morning Glory

Asagao ya / Tsurube torarete / Morai mizu
– Poet: Chiyo-ni (Kaga Chiyo)

General Information
Common name: Morning Glory
Scientific name: Ipomoea nil
Synonym: Phabitis nil
Other names: Japanese Morning Glory, Kengyuka
Classification: Kingdom Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Order Solanales, Family Convolvulaceae, Genus Ipomoea, Species nil
Origin: Tropical Asia
Type: Climbing annual vine
Vine length: 100–300 cm
Leaf shape: Lanceolate, edge entire, alternate phyllotaxy
Blooming period: June–October
Inflorescence: Dichasium
Flower shape: Trumpet
Flower diameter: 5–20 cm
Carpels: 3
Stamens: 5
Flower colors: Pale blue, blue, violet, reddish purple, red, pink, white
Fruit: Capsule
Seed color: Black