About
Ipomoea batatas, sweet potato, is a trailing or twining perennial often grown as an annual with ovate to heart-shaped, sometimes lobed leaves, funnel-shaped flowers in purple or white and edible, starchy storage roots. Many cultivars are grown solely as ornamental foliage plants, especially those with colourful purple or chartreuse leaves.
About the genus
Ipomoea, the morning glories, are annuals and perennials, often twining, with simple, lobed or dissected leaves and tubular or funnel-shaped flowers, typically opening in the morning and lasting a day. Popular ornamental climbers and groundcover plants for sunny positions.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse, Annual Biennial, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitClimbing, Trailing
FoliageDeciduous
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Native toIndonesia
Care notes
CultivationGrows best in well-drained, sandy loam in full sun, with support for climbing stems. May be grown outdoors in warmer regions, but best grown under glass in colder areas (minimum temperature 7-10°C). This species is the parent to both edible sweet potato cultivars, and to ornamental cultivars that rarely flower but have attractive foliage and may be climbing or compact
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, or by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings. Edible cultivars are grown from slips (rooted shoots from a tuber). These can be potted and grown indoors in spring and planted out once there is no risk of frost
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to fusarium wilt, powdery mildews and virus diseases