Scientific Name:
Ipomoea batatas
cvs.
Pronunciation:
ip-uh-MEE-uh buh-TAY-tuss
Common Name:
sweet potato vine
Family Name:
Convolvulaceae
Plant Type:
Annual
Key ID Features:
Trailing, annual vine often used in containers; leaves 12cm, cordate or palmate with 3-5 lobes and in a huge range of colours (gold, lime-green, purple, etc).
Habit:
Irregular, Open, Pendulous
Form:
Climbing, Irregular, Weeping
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
0.2 - 0.4m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central America, South America
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Bedding plant, Container planting, Hanging basket, Summer interest
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown include I. 'Blackie', I. 'Tricolour', I. ‘Margarita’, and I. 'Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red'.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Lobed
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Green, Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’ has black leaves while 'Marguerite' has lime green leaves and 'Tricolor' is pale white green with a rose color margin and variegation
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Cordate
Margins:
Pinnately lobed
Additional Info:
Cultivar shown on left is Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'. Cultivar in center is Ipomoea batatas ‘Tricolor’. Cultivar on left is Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’. 'Chartreuse' (not shown) is similiar in leaf color to 'Marguerite'
Inflorescence Type:
Flowers solitary
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Funnelform
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Magenta
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
rarely flowers
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant, very rare
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Red, Dark brown, Black
Organ Modifications:
Tuberous roots
Propagation:
Seed, Softwood cuttings, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Thrips (Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1193/1293
- HORT 2355
Location(s):
- (BED) BEDding, container, or basket
- (HPZ) Horticulture PlaZa