Ipomoea Star of Yelta

Morning glory earns its name honestly. Each flower opens at first light, holds its colour through the morning, and is finished by afternoon, replaced the next day by a dozen more. 'Star of Yelta' is a deep royal violet with a crimson star radiating from a white throat, which is the darkest and best of the purple forms.

Grown up canes, wire or a trellis it will make two to three metres in a good summer and cover the lot. In a pot with a wigwam it works just as well and can be moved into the sun.

It is genuinely tender and hates cold roots, so do not rush it outside. Soak the seed overnight before sowing to soften the hard coat, and keep the young plants warm until nights are reliably mild.