Description
Grandpa Ott Morning Glory Seeds 5745.
Iconic Heirloom Climber Featuring Deep Royal Purple Blooms with Ruby-Red Star Throats.
Grandpa Ott Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea) is one of the ultimate Bavarian heirloom varieties, famous for launching the Seed Savers Exchange preserve movement. Reaching vigorous heights of 2 to 4 m, this fast-climbing annual produces lush, heart-shaped foliage and an incredible volume of trumpet-shaped flowers. Each blossom features an intense, deep royal blue-purple hue centered with a brilliant ruby-red star and a soft pink throat. Extremely free-flowering from June through September, Grandpa Ott creates a breathtaking vertical screen over fences, arbours, and trellises.
Quick Seed Details
-
Product Code: 5745
-
Botanical Name: Ipomoea purpurea ‘Grandpa Ott’
-
Type: Heirloom Climbing Annual
-
Height / Length: 2–4 m
-
Plant Spacing: Thin to 15 cm apart
-
Light Requirement: Full Sun
-
Soil Preference: Moist, well-draining garden soil
-
Germination: Approx. 14 days (Soak seeds overnight prior to planting)
-
Seed Depth: 6 mm deep
-
Seed Count: Approx. 25–30 seeds per packet (25 seeds per gram)
What you need to know to Plant & Grow
Morning Glories possess hard seed coats and sensitive root systems; soaking seeds prior to direct outdoor sowing yields the highest success.
-
Seed Preparation: Soak seeds overnight in warm water for 12 to 24 hours before sowing to soften the hard outer seed coat and accelerate germination.
-
Direct Sowing (Recommended): Morning Glories dislike root disturbance from transplanting, so starting seeds indoors offers no real advantage. Direct sow pre-soaked seeds outdoors in mid to late May once soil has warmed and spring frost risks have passed. Sow seeds 6 mm deep and 7.5 cm apart in a sunny location with moist, well-draining soil.
-
Germination & Thinning: Seeds will germinate in approximately 2 weeks. Thin young vines to 15 cm apart when they reach 7.5 cm in height.
-
Support & Fertilizer Care: Provide a strong trellis, fence, or arbor for vines to climb. In rich garden soils, avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers as this leads to heavy leaf growth at the expense of blossoms. In poor soils, apply a balanced, dilute fertilizer regularly to support steady vigour and flowering.
Why Grandpa Ott Morning Glory Seeds belong in Your Garden
If you want an iconic, rich-coloured climbing vine that flowers non-stop from summer through autumn, Grandpa Ott Morning Glory is an essential choice. Its easy direct-sowing requirements, historical heritage, and brilliant ruby-and-purple blooms make it a low-maintenance favourite for Canadian garden trellises and fences.







