106. SWEET POTATO VINE AMIDST THE FLOWERS

Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is not an annual flower. It is grown for its colorful foliage and is an ornamental variety with a trailing habit. It does not provide the starchy edible potatoes. The leaves of these vigorous plants have striking colors and forms, and they make an effective seasonal ground cover in the flower garden. They are also wonderful spillers in containers, providing color all summer long. Sweet potato vine thrives in full sun or partial shade with ample moisture. They grow fast in heat and humidity. Foliage color is best on plants that receive afternoon shade. It is a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 9–11.

These eye-catching vines add a zing to established shrub borders and flower beds. The leaves come in shades of purple, chartreuse, red, bronze, and even multicolored. And their shapes range from lacy to heart shaped. The popular ‘Blackie’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’), which comes from the Proven Winners brand of plant propagators, has deeply lobed, blackish-maroon foliage that sets off any other flowering or foliage plant. It grows to 6 feet long and is a vigorous grower, making it great for filling a large area quickly. If it gets out of bounds, don’t be afraid to clip the plant back. There is no need to fertilize it unless you want superfast growth.

There are more compact varieties of sweet potato vine that grow only to 30 inches long. These work especially well in containers. The popular ‘Illusion Midnight Lace’ sweet potato has finely cut, almost black, lacy foliage that forms more of a mound. It is easy to grow. Its chartreuse sister plant, ‘Illusion Emerald Lace’ sweet potato vine, is just as enchanting. Lastly, try ‘Pink Frost,’ which is remarkable for its tricolor leaves edged in pink. It blends well with pink flowers.