That said, ornamental sweet potato tubers are planted for their lovely chartreuse, purple or variegated trailing foliage that serves as the perfect counterpoint to offset annual blooms. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. 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Ornamental sweet potato vines can add a pop of color to your yard, and the leaves and stems of this species can bring something new to your plate. Full sun and moist, well-drained soil. The foliage lends a tropical feel to the garden and comes in a range of colors and varying forms. Sweet Caroline series sweet potato :  Cultivars in this series are more compact in their growth and have deeply lobed leaves. use escape to move to top level menu parent. Our trees. Margarita sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas 'Margarita'): Chartreuse leaves, some lobed and some heart-shaped. This is a weak climber and may need to be trained onto a support. Similar color variations to the Sweet Caroline series. Let us know in the comments! The ornamental sweet potato plant (Ipomoea butatas) is somewhat different from its southern grown vegetable sibling. They can also be grown outdoors as annual ground cover in flower beds. Blackie sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'):  Leaves are lobed and dark purple. Many ornamentals are also sterile and only really viable to produce from cuttings. Our future. G ardeners you will be so excited to learn how to grow a sweet potato vine from a sweet potato. Many people toss these plants out at the end of summer and replace them each spring (at a cost of $3-$5 per pot), but there is an easy method to overwinter them, even in harsh climates. Use enter to activate. Most cultivars feature foliage that is colorful, usually shaped or both. Ornamental sweet potato is an attractive version of the edible sweet potato. One that really can take heat and grow non-stop is the ornamental sweet potato vine. They are seldom produced. When growing ornamental sweet potato vines, there are a number of varieties to choose from. Commercial sweet potatoes have been bred for over 100 years selecting for those with the best sugar to starch content (hence the name SWEET Potato), the ornamental have been bred to produce good leaves and no tubers, though they do form, they are composed of almost pure starch and no sugar; making them a poor choice for eating. They make beautiful houseplants too.. Series includes. In this article, we will share some smart tips and information to help you grow these lively, colorful plants successfully in any setting. In a container, the vines will quickly flow over the edges. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Stop by, email, or call. Proven Accents® Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red Ipomoea Plant (Sweet Potato Vine) Price: 9.25 Shipping Spring 2021 - view dates here. The tuber is edible, but these ornamental plants have not been bred for flavor, so the tubers may not be tasty. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! Yes, you can store the tubers for next spring’s planting. This plant grows like topsy making it perfect for ground cover and your garden beds. Ornamental sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) makes an excellent addition to any garden.They do well in traditional flowerbeds, in landscaping and are wonderful container plants.. The care of sweet potato plants is similar to most other vining houseplants in the home, spending summers outdoors. It is an annual vine. It is quite vigorous as a ground cover. It is a weakly twining vine and it is a poor climber. 3.1 out of 5 stars 67. Arrives before Christmas. They also are popular as indoor plants, and can be grown inside year-round or just during the cold of winter. The ornamental sweet potato is a bold tropical plant that grows as a perennial in Florida. cuttings from your sweet potato vines before the plant is nipped by frost in autumn. Sweet Caroline Sweetheart series sweet potato :  Cultivars in this series are more compact in their growth and have heart-shaped leaves. It’s lovely texture blends well in gardens and can be used as groundcover for all-over coverage. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. This plant produces vine-like stems similar to the philodendron and requires similar care to that of ivy when grown indoors. This beautiful vine has grown quickly in popularity for its fast growing habit and lush foliage. This is a weak climber and may need to be trained onto a support. In no time, there were tubers growing from the potato, and I planted it to soil. While tolerant of drought, these plants prefer to be kept moist (not soggy). Alternate, heart-shaped leaves. Plants also complement various garden styles. Keep reading for more ornamental sweet potato info. This is an easy process and the ornamental leaves are stunning. The foliage is much more colorful than that of edible sweet potatoes. This plant has some cultivated varieties. It … I started the vine from a store bought sweet potato. Twining vines climb by twisting their stems or leaf stalks around a support. I have a sweet potato vine with large wrinkly seed pods growin on the vine Ornamental sweet potato vines don’t produce many flowers, which means they often don’t produce seeds. From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Typically used as spillers in containers, they also make fantastic groundcovers, typically spreading 4 to 6 feet. Use an organic sweet potato. Foliage on the species is green, but cultivars may be chartreuse, purple, bronze or variegated. More Details. This unique plant is popular for containers and borders. Rinse the cuttings thoroughly under cool running water to wash away any pests, then place them in a glass container or vase filled with clean water. It is a cascading plant that comes in either bright lime green- ‘Margarita’, purplish black – ‘Blackie’; or variegated. The vigorous growth and drought tolerance of ornamental sweet potato vines makes them great choices for mixed containers and hanging baskets. Growing sweet potato vines is something every gardener should consider. Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), named for its edible cousin, is an ornamental warm-season annual grown for its attractive leaves and vining habit. Building the urban forest for 2050. Ornamental sweet potatoes are the same species as the edible kind but they have been selected for their interesting foliage, not their tasty roots.You’ll need lots of brown sugar and … It will need to be trained onto the support. They can also be kept as house plants. Grown and cared for like average houseplants, these attractive vines add a little something extra to the home or patio. This describes the ornamental sweet potato vine. Although most gardeners are familiar with annual sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) for their edible, smoky-sweet orange tubers, the ornamental sweet potato vine puts its energy into fountains of deeply lobed or heart-shaped, spring-to-fall leaves. The bold, brilliantly coloured leaves can be used to complement cordylines, heliconias, palms in a tropical inspired garden. Ornamental sweet potato tubers are, indeed, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas). Give them well-draining soil whether they are grown in pots or in the ground. Sign up for our newsletter. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Do you have a favorite recipe for the stems or leaves to share? Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. The following menu has 3 levels. Go to list of cultivars. The bloom in the picture is the end result. Ornamental sweet potato (ANNUAL VINE) Ornamental sweet potato is an attractive version of the edible sweet potato. AMERICAN PLANT EXCHANGE Sweet Potato Vine Live Plant, 6" Pot, Desana Lime. Though prolific growers, you may fertilize monthly, if desired, using a general all-purpose, water soluble fertilizer. Ornamental sweet potato is an annual vine, but it produces an underground tuber that can be dug at the end of the season and stored indoors for use in the garden next year. I did have trouble with the potato rotting, so I cut off the tubers, and potted them into soil. Ornamental sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is valued for its colorful foliage and rapid, easy-care growth habits. Sweet potato weevils and nematodes are serious pest problems with boniatos. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. Series includes. In the fall simply remove all foliage from the tuber, wash off any soil and let the tuber dry thoroughly for about 24 hours. Ornamental Sweet Potato Winter Care Ipomoea butatas, or sweet potato vine, thrives in hot, tropical climates and is an ornamental foliage plant often used as a foil for flowering displays. Decorative Use The vine is also grown for its decorative foliage, vigorous growth habit and drought tolerance. Stem cuttings can also be placed in water with rooting taking place within a few weeks. Gardeners turn to the sweet potato vine for its ability to power through just about anything while bringing interesting shapes, sizes, and colors to a pot or plot. Black Heart  sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas 'Black Heart'):  Leaves are heart-shaped and dark purple. Will you try cooking some up? Ornamental sweet potato vines are easy to grow garden annuals in many parts of the country. Flowers are small, pink and trumpet shaped. Overgrown or leggy looking plants can be cut back to encourage bushier growth and keep them under control. Ornamental sweet potato vines may start small, but some varieties will have you swimming in lush leaves by mid summer. The ornamental sweet potato vine is not grown for edible consumption. They also thrive in heat. On many common cultivars, the leaves are lobed into 3 to 5 lobed. We do not seem to have this in our living collection. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. In containers, make sure there are adequate drainage holes. Plant a sweet potato in water, and almost before your eyes it transforms into a sprawling vine with lime green or purple-tinged leaves. Follow these steps to planting and growing your own sweet potato vine indoors. Popular types of ornamental sweet potatoes include: You might be asking yourself about how to grow an ornamental sweet potato plant. The taste is a cross between a regular potato and sweet potato! You may know it as Marguerite, Sweet Caroline, Blackie or one of the other popular cultivars of this plant. Place your sweet potato tuber in a glass of water with the top third exposed by securing it in place with toothpicks. While it does produce edible sweet potato tubers (albeit not very palatable and bitter), the ornamental variety bears more colorful foliage, making it a popular houseplant. A vigorous annual or a tender perennial, it takes off in summer heat. Garden varieties of the edible sweet potato have been selected for their flavor while the ornamental varieties were … Ornamental sweet potato will grow about 10 to 12 feet long. Growing sweet potato vines is not too difficult. This climbing vine will scale a trellis or grow as a ground cover. Get it as soon as Wed, Dec 23. $18.99 $ 18. Using ornamental sweet potato in planting design. The ornamental sweet potato plant (Ipomoea butatas) is somewhat different from its southern grown vegetable sibling. The fruit are small, dry capsules; seldom produced. A very easy plant … Most cultivars feature foliage that is colorful, usually shaped or both. Ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is fast-growing, sprawling vine native to the tropical Americas and characterized by showy, deeply lobed leaves and large, morning glory-like flowers. Have tree and plant questions? FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. It does produce sweet potato tubers, and though these won't cause any harm if eaten, they tend to be bland and bitter. Sweet Potato Vine is known for it’s trailing growth, making it excellent for containers and hanging baskets. Winterizing Sweet Potato Vines by Cuttings Take several 10- to 12-inch (25.5-30.5 cm.) While you may be able to coax your plant into producing sweet potato vine seeds, they aren’t guaranteed to be good, so it’s best to propagate in other ways. 99. They are easily propagated either from small rooted pieces from the eye buds of the tuber or by stem cuttings–no plant seeds to worry with as with their morning glory cousin. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. Our communities. This heat loving perennial will die back if the plant experiences hard … Often grown in container gardens for its trailing stems of purple, chartreuse, or variegated foliage, ornamental sweet potato vine is actually related to the sweet potatoes you'd grow in your vegetable … Root decay caused by Rhizopus, Diplodia, and Fusarium prevents long-time storage of the roots. Even better, the leaves are edible and tasty. 1. Sweet potato vine grows as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Sweet potato vines enjoy a bright, sunny location outdoors with similar conditions in the home. Illusion® series sweet potato :  Cultivars in this series all have very deeply cut leaves. Ornamental sweet potato vines come in many varieties and colors, and they look beautiful as ground covers or for contrasts in pots and hanging baskets. 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