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Great Design Plant: Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
Versatile, fast growing, inexpensive and easy on the eyes, ornamental sweet potato vine has it all
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor based out of Hershey, PA. Come visit me at 'A Nest for All Seasons' where I write about design, photography and modern garden living!
I am a freelance editorial and wedding photographer and Houzz contributor... More »
In search of a perfect plant? Try sweet potato vine, which comes in a deep, dark green or a bright and lively lime. It can complement a cottage garden, brighten up a modern planting or add a little filler to any blank spot in the yard or container. Read on for just a few ideas for using sweet potato vine to its best advantage.
Botanical name: Ipomoea batatas
Common name: Ornamental sweet potato vine
USDA zones: 8b-11 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 18 inches to 6 feet
Benefits and tolerances: Vigorous growth; handles some shade; perfect for pots
Seasonal interest: Adds bulk to plantings from spring through summer
When to plant: Mid-spring or after the last frost
Botanical name: Ipomoea batatas
Common name: Ornamental sweet potato vine
USDA zones: 8b-11 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 18 inches to 6 feet
Benefits and tolerances: Vigorous growth; handles some shade; perfect for pots
Seasonal interest: Adds bulk to plantings from spring through summer
When to plant: Mid-spring or after the last frost
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| Whether it tumbles off the top of a stone wall or climbs a wooden pergola, sweet potato vine adds vertical interest to any garden. |
Need to cover a wall? Try ornamental sweet potato vine. A relative of the vigorous 'Morning Glory' vine, sweet potato vine can cover a wall in a season.
| Use this vigorous growth to your advantage. Try planting ornamental sweet potato vine alongside perennial climbers such as grapevines or clematis. The sweet potato vine will fill in the space this season, while the slow-growing climbers need a few years to fill out their arbor or pergola. |
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| There aren't many plants that can transition from slick, modern settings to kitschy cottages, but sweet potato vine can. It fits into this modern seating area seamlessly. |
by TEA2 Architects
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One of the classic ways to use sweet potato vine is as a filler in pots. It is a great draper and can handle the shade of a front porch or hanging basket.
| Ornamental sweet potato vine is also perfect for covering up the "bare knees" of potted plants such as canna lily (pictured) or elephant ear (next). |
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Use the bright lime variety 'Margarita' to add an extra punch of color and vibrancy to your potted plants.
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That same lime green can really liven up an evergreen bed and soften the edges of your hardscaping.
Whether your sweet potato vine is planted in a pot, a box, a bed or a bin, it will grow vigorously and offer a lot of bang for just a few bucks. Use it as a filler for arbors and pergolas, a draper for entryway pots or simply as a boost for your evergreen beds. Could this chameleon work any harder?
How do you use ornamental sweet potato vine in your garden? Show us your photos below!
How do you use ornamental sweet potato vine in your garden? Show us your photos below!
Ideabook published on Aug. 30, 2012.
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Laura and debra - agree about the vigorous nature of this plant and it can become invasive. However, kept in pots or planters, it definitely won't hurt a soul as it will not produce seed that lands in your garden beds. If you are worried about it, keep it contained.
Tricia - The vine may produce tubers, but they will be smaller (as sclawson said) and not nearly as yummy as the real thing. Chances are they will be tiny little things -- this is def, an ornamental plant as opposed to an edible.
lavenderdiva - YES! The purple is beautiful -- it should have its own book!
http://www.jeanierhoades.com/a-little-crazy/
i buy nursery stock (pricy) and it takes off fairly quickly and no worries with our brutal winter about it becoming obnoxious or invasive. I love the shock of lime green in the pots or sibling over a garden wall. I also like the red and the combination of the two with Canna lilies or a tropical palm is striking.
It does wilt quickly in dry conditions and i have found it is susceptible to the lily beetle when there are no Asiatic lilies around ( because they have killed them off).