Sweet Potato Vine, Ornamental, "Kelly Ray" (Ipomoea batatas 'Kelly Ray')
Plant Family:
Morning Glory Family (Convolvulaceae)
Visual Identification:
marbled dark purple and lime green heart-shaped foliage with tinges of
burgundy. New growth is chartreuse.
Native Region(s): Sweet potato vine is native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. The 'Kelly Ray' cultivar is a naturally occurring chimeral mutation of ‘Ace of Spades’ that spontaneously started growing in a flat at a nursery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Landscape Use:
combination planters as a "spiller," hanging baskets, groundcover.
Attracts butterflies and other pollinators.
Height:
6-12 inches
Spread:
3-10 feet
Spacing:
24 inches
Hardiness Zones:
9b-11a. I have heard accounts of sweet potato vine returning in the
spring in zones as low as 8b. The foliage will die back after a frost, but
will return from the tubers in spring in zones 9b and above.
Hardy Down To:
25°F in-ground. 40°F in containers. Bring your plant inside before the
first frost.
Light:
full sun to part shade outdoors, or bright, indirect light indoors. You
may want to keep this plant away from hot, dry locations that receive
direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against
the south side of a white wall.
Water: Average water needs. It will do best when the soil is kept evenly moist,
but it does not tolerate standing water. It enjoys a humid
environment.
Soil: grows best in rich soils
Culinary Uses:
Culinary Herb, Vegetable, Cooked greens
Toxicity: The 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.
The 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
Other Sweet Potato Vine varieties:
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