Blue morning glory

Common name: Blue morning glory
Botanical name: Ipomoea indica
Management programme: Advisory

Pan tropical plant naturalised in 1950. Introduced to New Zealand as an attractive garden plant that flowers year round. Originally no seed was found on flowering blue morning glory plants within New Zealand, until 1996 when a large specimen producing large amounts of seed was discovered in the Bay of Plenty.

Why is it a pest?

It grows very quickly, forming dense mats that smother other plants.
Its ability to climb makes it the dominant vine wherever it occurs; it can replace forest with a low weedy blanket.
Vegetative fragments will also form new plants. This plant is often dumped as garden waste and causes issues along road reserves and margins.

Where is it found?

Common throughout the Bay of Plenty and found in gardens, waste places, forest margins, and plantations.

What does it look like?

Rampant smothering climber or ground cover with stems/vines up to 6m in length.
Leaves have silky hairs on the underside.
Flowers year-round. New flowers open daily, fading from blue to pink in late afternoon.

What are the rules?

Advisory

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council does not enforce the control of advisory species. It is landowner/occupier responsibility to manage these pests. Council may provide advice on how to manage or control these species if required.