Will Seeds From an Annual Flowering Vine Plant Grow Next Year on Their Own?

Ipomoea Family

• The morning glory (Ipomoea tricolor or Ipomoea purpurea), the moonflower (Ipomoea alata) and the cardinal climber (Ipomoea multifida) are varieties of annual flowering vines from the same family, and they are prolific producers of seed. They will reseed themselves easily year after year in the area around their planting site. Flowering vines in the Ipomoea family have heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers. Morning glories have purple, blue or bicolor flowers, moonflower blossoms are pure white, and the flowers of cardinal climber are scarlet red.

Edible

• The flowers on some vining vegetables are every bit as beautiful as those of their inedible flowering cousins. These vines easily produce seed which will grow by itself the following or may be collection and planted by the gardener.

  Hyacinth beans (Lablab purpureus) produce 10- to 30-foot vines with burgundy stems and burgundy veins on its 6-inch, green leaves. It produces clusters of purple or white flowers which then produce burgundy-colored beans. A similar plant, the scarlet runner bean (Phasaeolus coccineus) produces clusters of bright red flowers followed by green-podded, edible beans. Several varieties of nasturtium, (Tropaeolum majus) grow into 10-foot vines with red, pink, orange, salmon, yellow or white, edible flowers.

Unusual Shapes

• The cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens) grows quickly into a dense, 15- to 25-foot vine. It clings to its supporting structure by tendrils that emerge from the end of each leaf stalk. The lavender, cup-shaped flowers sit atop a green, saucer-shaped base.

  The purple bell vine, (Rhodochiton atrosanguineum) produces violet-red, bell-shaped flowers that hang down in clusters on delicate stems. The stems and vines are purple, and the heart-shaped leaves are edged in purple. Collect seeds of these two unusual flowers after they ripen in late summer. Plant them the following spring.

Cool Weather-Loving

• Grow cool weather-loving, annual flowering vines in spring and early summer. In mild climates, they can be grown throughout winter. Sweet pea vines (Lathyrus odoratus) produce ultra-fragrant flowers on 6-foot vines. They easily produce seeds, but the seeds only remain viable for one to two years.

  The black-eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) grows just 3 to 6 feet high and prefers partial shade. The orange, yellow or white, daisylike flowers have a dark-colored throat and resemble the more popular wildflower with the same name. Black-eyed Susan vines produce their best show of flowers in the cooler weather of late summer or early fall. Collect their seeds when they ripen in late fall. Sow them directly in the garden the following spring or start them indoors, under lights, in late winter.