Culture
A tender perennial that is winter hardy to USDA Zones 9 to 11. In the St. Louis area, it is grown as an annual in hanging baskets and containers or in the ground as a bedding plant or ground cover. Starter plants are often available from local nurseries in cell packs in spring. Cuttings may be taken from established plants in summer for overwintering indoors in bright but cool locations with reduced watering.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Evolvulus glomeratus is a non-vining morning glory-like tender perennial with trailing stems that is native to Brazil. If planted in the ground as a bedding plant, it typically forms sprawling foliage mounds to 9-18” tall. Trailing stems tend to grow somewhat horizontally to downward when planted in baskets or containers. Flowers usually close up at night and on cloudy days. Sometimes listed synonymous with E. pilosus, which adds considerable taxonomic confusion since E. pilosus is also sometimes listed as being synonymous with E. nuttallianus, a small-flowered native North American species that is winter hardy to USDA Zone 4.
Genus name comes from the Latin word evolvo meaning "to untwist or unravel" because members of this genus, unlike many others in the Convolvulaceae family, do not twine.
Specific epithet means clustered into more or less rounded heads.
‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’ is a popular cultivar that features slightly bell-shaped, blue morning glories (to 1” diameter) that freely bloom throughout the growing season on stems clad with oblanceolate, hairy, silvery-green leaves (to 1” long).
Problems
No known serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Hanging baskets, containers, small area ground cover or trailing over stone walls.