Understanding the Truth: Can You Eat the Leaves of Morning Glory?

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

While the name “morning glory” brings to mind beautiful flowering vines, there is a crucial distinction between edible and toxic varieties. With approximately 18 kcal per 100 grams, the culinary version, water spinach, is a nutritional staple in many cuisines, but it is vital to know the difference before you can confidently say: can you eat the leaves of morning glory?

Quick Summary

Not all morning glory varieties are safe to eat; some ornamental plants are toxic. The leaves of edible water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) are safe and nutritious, widely used in Asian cuisine, while the seeds and leaves of flowering ornamental species contain toxins. Proper identification is critical for safe consumption.

Key Points

Identify Correctly: Only the water spinach variety (Ipomoea aquatica) is edible; ornamental morning glories are toxic.
Avoid Ornamental Varieties: The seeds and leaves of decorative morning glory plants, like Ipomoea purpurea, contain toxic alkaloids.
Choose Water Spinach: The safe, culinary version has hollow stems and is often grown in wet environments.
Wash and Cook Thoroughly: Always wash and cook water spinach to eliminate potential parasites or contaminants, especially if sourced from wetlands.
Reap Nutritional Benefits: Edible water spinach is low in calories and rich in vitamins A, C, E, iron, and fiber.
Use Caution with Foraging: Never forage and eat wild morning glory unless you are 100% certain of the species' identity.
Understand Oxalates: Water spinach contains oxalates, so individuals with kidney stone issues should consume it in moderation.

Not All Morning Glory Is Edible

Before adding any plant to your meal, it is essential to understand that there are vast differences within the Ipomoea genus, the family to which morning glories belong. This group includes both the highly nutritious water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) cherished in Asian cooking and the ornamental, often poisonous, climbing vines found in gardens globally. Confusing the two can have serious health consequences, as the seeds of ornamental morning glories contain hallucinogenic indole alkaloids, and the foliage can cause gastrointestinal issues.

The Edible Star: Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)

Water spinach, also known as kangkong, ong choy, or swamp cabbage, is the edible variety of morning glory cultivated extensively for its leaves and hollow stems. It is a semi-aquatic plant that thrives in water or very moist soil and is a beloved vegetable throughout East and Southeast Asia. The young, tender leaves and stems have a mild, sweetish, and slightly earthy flavor with a satisfying crunch, making them perfect for stir-fries, soups, and salads.

A Nutrient Powerhouse

Beyond its versatile culinary uses, water spinach offers impressive nutritional benefits. It is low in calories but rich in essential vitamins and minerals. A 100-gram serving provides significant amounts of:

Vitamin A, crucial for vision and skin health.
Vitamin C, which boosts the immune system.
Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps fight inflammation.
Iron, important for preventing anemia.
Calcium, for maintaining strong bones and teeth.
Potassium, magnesium, and other important minerals.
Dietary fiber, which aids digestion and helps prevent constipation.

The Toxic Counterpart: Ornamental Morning Glory

Ornamental morning glory species, such as Ipomoea purpurea and Ipomoea violacea, are grown for their beautiful, trumpet-shaped flowers. These are not intended for human consumption. Their seeds, in particular, are toxic due to the presence of lysergic acid alkaloids and can cause a range of symptoms from vomiting and diarrhea to hallucinations if ingested in large quantities. Even the foliage can cause mild digestive upset. It is crucial to prevent pets and children from eating any part of these plants.

Proper Identification Is Crucial

Foraging for edible greens requires certainty, and mistaking toxic ornamental varieties for culinary ones is a dangerous risk. Here’s a guide to help distinguish between the two:

Growth Environment: Edible water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) grows in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, often cultivated in ponds, while ornamental varieties typically grow on dry land, climbing fences or trellises.
Stems: Water spinach has hollow, tender stems that are often much thicker than the solid, sometimes hairy, stems of ornamental species.
Flowers and Seeds: Ornamental morning glories are known for their prominent, showy, often multicolored flowers. Their toxic seeds are the most dangerous part of the plant. Edible water spinach is harvested before it flowers extensively to ensure the best leaf quality.

Preparing and Cooking Edible Morning Glory (Water Spinach)

To prepare water spinach safely, especially varieties from wet environments, it is vital to wash it thoroughly to remove any parasites or contaminants. It is also recommended to cook water spinach rather than eating it raw to ensure safety. Popular cooking methods include:

Stir-frying: A classic method involves stir-frying the hollow stems and leaves with garlic, chili, and soy or oyster sauce. This is famously known as rau muong xao toi in Vietnam or pad pak boong fai daeng in Thailand.
Blanching: The leaves and stems can be quickly blanched in boiling water and served with a dipping sauce.
Soups and Curries: The crunchy stems hold up well in soups and curries, absorbing the flavors of the broth.

Comparison Table: Edible vs. Ornamental Morning Glory


Feature	Edible Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)	Ornamental Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea)
Growth Habit	Semi-aquatic or very moist soil; often cultivated in water.	Dry land; grown as a climbing vine.
Stems	Hollow and tender; can be green or purple-tinged.	Solid and sometimes hairy.
Leaves	Arrow-shaped or lanceolate.	Heart-shaped or lobed.
Flowers	White to pale pink or lilac, harvested before extensive blooming.	Prominent, showy, trumpet-shaped; comes in various colors.
Edible Parts	Leaves and stems.	None; the foliage can cause mild digestive upset.
Toxic Parts	Potential for contamination from polluted water; contains oxalates.	Seeds and foliage are toxic; seeds contain hallucinogenic alkaloids.

Nutritional Considerations and Health Precautions

For those choosing to enjoy edible water spinach, some health considerations are important. The plant contains oxalates, natural compounds that can interfere with calcium absorption and may affect individuals prone to kidney stones. Moderation is key for sensitive individuals. Additionally, ensuring the water spinach is sourced from clean, unpolluted water is critical to avoid parasites and heavy metal contamination. The best practice is to thoroughly wash and cook the vegetable to eliminate any pathogens.

Conclusion: Caution and Clarity Are Key

To answer the question, can you eat the leaves of morning glory? — yes, but only the specific edible species known as water spinach or Ipomoea aquatica. The ornamental versions found climbing fences are toxic and should never be consumed. By focusing on proper identification, ensuring clean sourcing, and preparing the vegetable correctly, you can safely enjoy the nutritional benefits of edible morning glory. When in doubt about a plant's identity, always err on the side of caution and do not consume it. For those interested in exploring the culinary uses of water spinach, finding it in Asian markets is a safe and reliable option.

Vietnam Airlines offers cultural context and recipes for edible morning glory.

Frequently Asked Questions

The edible type is water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), also known as kangkong or swamp cabbage. It is a semi-aquatic plant cultivated for its tender leaves and hollow stems, unlike ornamental garden varieties.

Ingesting the foliage of ornamental morning glories can cause mild gastrointestinal upset, including vomiting and diarrhea. The seeds are much more toxic and can cause hallucinations and other serious symptoms.

Yes, the seeds of many ornamental morning glory species, such as Ipomoea purpurea and Ipomoea violacea, contain toxic lysergic acid alkaloids that can cause serious symptoms, including hallucinations and vomiting.

Edible water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) has hollow stems and typically grows in or near water, while non-edible ornamental varieties are land-based climbers with solid stems. When in doubt, it is safest to avoid consuming the plant.

Water spinach is a nutrient-dense vegetable that is low in calories. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Edible water spinach should be thoroughly washed and cooked to ensure safety, especially if from a wetland environment. Common methods include stir-frying with garlic, blanching, or adding to soups and curries.

Dwarf morning glory (Evolvulus) is a different genus from the Ipomoea family and is generally non-toxic. However, it is always best to be cautious and properly identify any plant before consumption.