Sweet Potato Vine, Ornamental, "Blackie" variety (Ipomoea batatas)

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Also known as Ornamental Sweetpotato, Sweetpotato, Sweet Potato Vine, Sweetpotato Vine, Water Spinach, Camoten, 'Uala, Tuberous Morning Glory (names common to all sweet potato vine varieties)

Plant Type: Tender, herbaceous trailing or climbing perennial tuber. (Considered an annual in climates lower than the stated USDA Hardiness Zones.)

Plant Family: Morning Glories (Convolvulaceae)

Visual Identification: Maple-shaped leaves, primarily a deep burgundy or purple which almost looks black. Green and magenta undertones. Bears trumpet-shaped lavender to pale purple flowers similar to other flowers in the Morning Glory (Convolvulaceae) family.

Native Region(s): the tropical regions of Central and South America

Landscape Use: ground cover, borders, slopes and walls, rock garden, pollinator garden, water/rain garden. Can be trained as a climbing vine. Plant in mixed containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes as a "spiller". Attracts specialized bees and other pollinators. Though it is not deer-resistant, it grows prolifically, up to 36 inches per week in ideal conditions.

Height: 10 inches

Spread: up to 10 feet

Spacing: 24 inches

Hardiness Zones: perennial in zones 10-11 (some sources include Zone 9). Commonly used as an annual in lower zones.

Hardy Down To: 40°F. Plant in spring or early summer when all danger of frost is past. Nighttime temperatures should be above 40 to 45 degrees to avoid cold damage. Minimum nighttime temperatures below 55 degrees can delay growth. They prefer hot, humid conditions similar to their native habitat and may fail to thrive in dry desert climates. In cooler regions, boost performance by planting in a warm location such as a south-facing wall or heat-absorbing patio.

Light: Full sun (6+ hours) is recommended. Can be grown in part shade with 2-6 hours of direct sun exposure per day, but foliage may be duller. Tolerant of full shade conditions. May benefit from shade to prevent scorched leaves when temperatures reach 110° F and above.

Water: Generally considered moderately drought-tolerant when planted in-ground. Keep young plants in moist soil; mature plants can sustain dry soil between waterings. Give them an inch of water per week, or more during extreme heat. Containerized plants will need to be watered more often, every 1-2 days during hot spells. In containers, water when the top inch of soil is dry.

Soil: Moist, well-drained, neutral to acidic

Maintenance: easy to maintain. Prune only as desired. Deadheading of flowers is not required, but recommended if the plant is accessible to pets or children who are at risk of consuming the toxic seeds. (It is improbable that flowers will be fertilized if the plant is kept indoors.) When planted in-ground in zones 9 and lower, you can dig up and store the tubers as you would with other other summer bulbs.

Fertilize: Sweet Potato Vine is a fast-growing plant and heavy feeder. Fertilize every other week, or mix a balanced slow-release fertilizer into the soil when planting.

Seasons of Interest: spring through fall, or year-round in zone 10-11

Floral Arrangement Uses: Use as draping foliage in floral arrangements. As a bonus, cuttings will very likely root in water and can be re-planted when the arrangement is spent.

Toxicity: seeds are toxic. The sap contains latex and can cause contact dermatitis in latex-sensitive individuals. All parts of the plant with the exception of the seeds are considered non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, according to the ASPCA. Leaves, stems, and tubers are technically edible, but not as flavorful as the varieties grown for food. Should you be curious about the flavor of ornamental sweet potato vine foliage or tubers, rest assured that Solacious Seeds does not use any toxic or non-organic pesticides or fungicides in the production of its plants.

Sweet potato vines should not be confused with regular potato plants, which are in the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. A potato plant's foliage is toxic to humans and animals due to the harmful glycoalkaloids solanine and chaconine. Should you ever taste bitterness while eating a regular potato tuber, stop eating it immediately. The bitterness is an indication that the potato contains unsafe levels of solanine.

Additional Resources:

Quick Care Guide

🌱 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗺𝘆, 𝗺𝗼𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. Potting Mix Recipe: 1 part peat moss or coco coir, 1 part perlite, 1 part compost

🌤️ 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗻. Foliage color is richest when plants receive at least 6 hours of full sun per day.

🌡️ 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗱. Grows best at an average temperature of 75° F. Minimum 50°F. Prefers humid conditions; not a requirement.

💧 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗰. Drought-tolerant but grows best if soil is evenly moist. Water 1” per week. Water every 1-2 days during high heat.

☠️ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀. The leaves, stems, and tubers are technically edible, though not bred for flavor as this is an ornamental variety. The sap contains latex and may cause dermatitis in those with a sensitivity.

Other Sweet Potato Vine varieties:

Sweet Potato Vine, Ornamental, "Margarita" variety (Ipomoea batatas 'margarita')

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