Morning Glory Flower Meaning
Morning glory flower meaning includes eternal love, rebirth, resilience, life and love in vain. These meanings derive from Chinese mythology as well as the botany of the flower itself. In the Victorian language of flowers, morning glories are a symbol of undying love.
The morning glory is aptly named, as it blooms in the morning and dies by the afternoon. This symbolizes the cycle of life and rebirth. Likewise, the morning glory flower is resilient, rising each morning to face the challenges of a new day. The symbolism of morning glory flowers is also affected by their color. Morning glories come in blue, purple, red, white and yellow. See morning glory color meaning.
Morning Glory Meaning: Chinese Mythology
According to Chinese lore, Chien Niu was a boy star who was entrusted to take care of water buffalo in the heavenly kingdom. A girl star named Chih Neu was put in charge of seamstress duties.
They fell in love. The romance caused them to neglect their duties. In anger, God forced the young lovers to be separated on both sides of the Silver River and allowed them to meet only once during the whole year.
The star-shaped morning glory is symbolic of the single day each year in which the Chinese lovers, Chien Niu and Chih Neu, are allowed to meet. This lore is also connected to the fact that morning glory flowers last for only one day. They bloom in the morning and die by evening.
Morning Glory Spiritual Meaning
Morning glory seeds were used in Mexico in religious ceremonies to induce a dreamlike state. This was purported to allow one to better commune with the gods. The Mayans used the seeds in a beverage to bring about a state in which prophecy was possible.
The seeds of morning glories contain lysergic acid amide (LSA). This is chemically similar to LSD. For this reason, the seeds are associated with hallucinations and strong psychedelic experiences.
LSA is not a controlled substance, but there are potential side effects. Morning glories can be toxic and will cause nerve damage in large doses. Nausea, vomiting, anxiety, increased blood pressure and other impacts may occur when consumed in large quantities. For this reason, morning glory flower seeds may be considered poisonous.
Symbolism of Morning Glory Colors
Morning glories are a hardy vine indigenous to South America. They also grow well in England’s cool climate. This led to their popularity during the Victorian era. The flower now grow all over the world. In some places they can even be invasive. As noted above, morning glory flowers come in blue, purple, red, white and yellow. The meaning for each of these flower colors are given below.
Blue Morning Glory Meaning
Blue morning glories mean trust and respect.
White Morning Glory Meaning
White morning glories symbolize purity and innocence.
Red Morning Glory Meaning
Red morning glories represent passion and romance.
Pink Morning Glory Meaning
Pink morning glories mean affection and thoughtfulness.
Purple Morning Glory Meaning
Purple morning glories symbolize royalty and beauty.
Morning Glory Medicinal Uses
Morning glories are known in China for their medicinal properties. The seeds are said to have a laxative effect. In Chinese traditional medicine, morning glories have been used to support the health of the lungs, kidneys and large intestines. Morning glory seeds can act as a diuretic to reduce swelling and water retention. Morning glories have also been used to induce labor.
Native Americans used morning glories to make a tea to alleviate coughs and lung congestion. The leaves were used in powder form for stomach discomfort and headaches. Morning glory flowers can also be used to make wine. The flowers are soaked for about two weeks in cold water before the fermentation process begins.
Morning Glory Culinary Uses
Certain types of morning glories are edible. The water morning glory, also known as water spinach or swamp cabbage, can be eaten raw like lettuce. Although categorized as a noxious weed, the state of Texas allows water spinach to be grown for personal consumption.
The roots and stems are edible though not considered a delicacy. They can be eaten in small amounts if cooked. They are “famine foods.”
Morning glory leaves can be used in stir-fry dishes to add variety and interest. Morning glories are part of the nightshade family along with potatoes, bell peppers and tobacco.
More About Morning Glory Flowers
In ancient Mesopotamia, morning glory juice was used in combination with substance from the Castilla elastica tree to make a bouncing rubber ball over three thousand years ago.
The flowers are funnel-shaped and prefer full sun. Morning glories will grow in poor, dry soil. They are a vine flower and are highly useful for trellises where they reduce the heating and cooling costs of buildings.
There are thousands of morning glory varieties. Sweet potatoes are part of the same family. A few of the well-know morning glory flower varieties are Blue Morning Glory (Ipomoea Indica), Moonflowers (Ipomoea alba), and Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas).
Author Kathleen Karlsen
Kathleen Karlsen is a musician, artist, writer and speaker. She is the author of two books (Flower Symbols and Vocal Medicine) and over 200 articles. Kathleen, her husband Andrew, and their five children live in Bozeman, Montana. More about Kathleen Karlsen.
MORNING GLORY ARTICLE SUMMARY
Morning glory flower meaning includes life and rebirth. Some meanings are derived from Chinese mythology. Other meanings stem from the fact that morning glories bloom for less than a day. Morning glory flower meaning can also vary based on the flower color. Learn all about beautiful morning glories in this comprehensive article.
