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

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Also known as Margarite, Marguerite. Names common to all sweet potato vine varieties: Ornamental Sweetpotato, Sweetpotato, Sweet Potato Vine, Sweetpotato Vine, Water Spinach

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

Plant Family: Morning Glory / Bindweed Family (Convolvulaceae)

Visual Identification: Vigorous, trailing, mounded growth with vibrant chartreuse foliage. Leaves are 3-6 inches long and wide and vaguely heart-shaped. Produces pink or lavender colored funnel-shaped flowers 1-3 inches wide with fused petals.

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: 4-10 inches

Spread: 4 - 5 feet

Spacing: 18-24 inches

Hardiness Zones: 9b-11. Some sources claim that the 'Margarita' cultivar is hardy in zones as low as 8b, though I have not had plants return in spring from the ground or planters in Austin, TX (USDA Hardiness Zone 8b).

Temperature Range: Heat tolerant. Grows best at an average temperature of 75° F. It is best to plant in spring once temperatures consistently remain above its dormancy threshold of 50° F. Minimum nighttime temperatures below 55 degrees can delay growth. Nighttime temperatures should be above 40 to 45 degrees to avoid cold damage. Foliage will perish if exposed to frost. In areas below the perennial USDA Hardiness Zones, the tuberous roots can be stored over the winter in a cool dry space at a temperature between 55-59° F covered in a dry medium. To trigger dormancy, allow the plant to be exposed to cold temperatures in the fall, or even touched by a light frost. Don’t let it freeze, or the tuber may not store well.

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: 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. The leaves will begin to wilt when the plant is thirsty. It does not tolerate being watter-logged. Humidity is not a requirement of sweet potato vine as it is with most tropical plants.

Soil: loamy, well-draining soil high in organic matter. Sweet potato vine is generally tolerant of different pH levels and soil types as long as the soil is well-draining. You may need to apply an acid-forming fertilizer if your soil is above a pH of 8.0.

Maintenance: easy to maintain. Prune only as needed. Deadheading of flowers is not required, but recommended if the plant is accessible* 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.

Fertilize: Not required, but a well-balanced fertilizer treatment every 1-2 weeks will promote vigorous growth.

Seasons of Interest: Foliage interest as an annual, or perennial in zones 10+. Flowers in spring and summer. Sweet potato vines rarely flower when the daylight is longer than 11 hours.

Floral Arrangement Uses: foliage/filler

Toxicity: seeds are toxic. The sap contains latex and can cause dermatitis. 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.

Additional Resources:

• davesgarden.com, "Ipomoea, Ornamental Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Vine 'Margarita'"
• epicgardening.com, "Sweet Potato Vine: Grow and Care for Ipomoea Batatas"
• garden.org, "Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita')"
• gardendesign.com, "Growing Sweet Potato Vine"
• getbusygardening.com, "Overwintering Sweet Potato Vine Indoors (Plants, Tubers, or Cuttings)"
• North Caroline Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (plants.ces.ncsu.edu), "Ipomoea batatas"
• provenwinners.com, "Proven Accents® Margarita Sweet Potato Vine"
• provenwinners.com, "Sweet Potato Vine Care - The Ultimate Guide from Proven Winners®"
• SFGATE: Home Guides (homeguides.sfgate.com)  "Can You Eat the Potatoes From a Decorative Potato Plant?"
• SFGATE: Home Guides, "Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine Varieties"
• thespruce.com, "How to Grow and Care for Sweet Potato Vine"

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. 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, "Blackie" variety (Ipomoea batatas)

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