It bears heart-shaped or three-lobed leaves and purple or blue funnel-shaped flowers 6–8 cm (2–3 in) in diameter, from spring to autumn.

[4][5] The plant is grown as an ornamental for its attractive flowers, but is considered invasive in many regions of the world, being specifically listed on New Zealand's Biosecurity Act 1993.

Ipomoea indica is a vigorous, long-lived, tender, perennial plant, a vine which is native to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate habitats throughout the world.

It is a twisting, occasionally lying, herbaceous plant which is more or less densely hairy on the axial parts with backward-looking trichomes.

The seeds are about 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in size and are dispersed via rain, wind, human activity, gravity, and waterways.

The results suggest I. indica's closest living relatives to be the ivy-leaved and picotee morning glories.

[7] However, other authorities consider it to be an introduced and/or invasive species in the United States, Mexico, and parts of its Caribbean and Pacific range.

[7] Ipomoea indica has become a noxious weed and invasive plant species in Australia, California, China, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Montenegro,[16] New Caledonia,[17] New Zealand, Portugal,[18] South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

In New Zealand, it is classed as an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act 1993 and it is therefore illegal to sell, propagate and distribute the plant.

These seeds are easily germinated, giving the plant the ability to rapidly invade and colonize new land.

The stolons of blue morning glory are also capable of growing at a rapid pace, adding to the plant's succession.

[7] Blue morning glory is a popular species widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for its colourful flowers.