Ipomoea batatas
Botanical Name
Ipomoea batatas
Hardiness
Zones 9 to 11, grown as annual elsewhere
Height
Up to 3 feet long
Flowers
Pale purple, trumpet shaped, usually not seen, grown for foliage in colors of chartreuse, purples, pink and whites
Light
Part shade to full sun
Soil
Moist, well-drained
Planting and Care
Space 24 inches in ground or 1 to 2 vigorous cultivars per container
Problems
None serious, slugs, whiteflies?
Varieties to Consider
'Marguerite' - chartreuse, heart-shaped leaves, vigorous
'Blackie' - purple, lobed leaves, vigorous
'Tricolor' - pink, white and green, smaller, lobed leaves, less vigorous
'Carolina Purple' - purple-green foliage, more contained growth than 'Blackie'
'Blackie' - purple, lobed leaves, vigorous
'Tricolor' - pink, white and green, smaller, lobed leaves, less vigorous
'Carolina Purple' - purple-green foliage, more contained growth than 'Blackie'
Did you know?
Ipomoea batatas is an important food crop in several countries including China, India, and the Phillippines.