Bountiful Gardens

The Neon Navigator: Ipomoea

Sweet Potato Vines are loved for their heart-shaped or deeply lobed (maple-like) leaves. They come in three primary "flavors": electric chartreuse, deep midnight purple, and variegated (green with pink and white). They don't really bloom much, but with leaves this dramatic, you won't even notice.

Role in the Garden

• Design Category: Spiller. It is the ultimate trailer. It will cascade 3 to 6 feet down the side of a pot or "weave" its way through a flower bed as a dense groundcover.

• Best Placement: It is a "must" for hanging baskets, window boxes, and elevated urns. In the ground, it acts as a "living mulch" that suppresses weeds.

• Bloom Season: Foliage-focused (All Season). Occasionally, it might produce a pale lavender "morning glory" flower, but the leaves are the real show.

Care & Maintenance

• The "Vigor" Warning: This plant is a "space hog." It will happily swallow up smaller, slower-growing neighbors if you don't keep it in check.

• Pruning is Encouraged: Don't be afraid to give it a "haircut" every few weeks. Snapping off the ends forces the vine to branch out, making the top of the pot look much fuller.

• The "Drama Queen" Wilt: Like Impatiens, Ipomoea will wilt dramatically if it gets thirsty. However, it is incredibly resilient and will perk back up within thirty minutes of a good soak.

• Sun vs. Shade: It is very adaptable. In full sun, the colors are most intense (the purples get darker, the limes get brighter). In deep shade, the purple varieties may turn a muddy green.

The Essential Tip for Beginners

The "Hidden Tuber" Surprise: In the fall, when you go to pull your Sweet Potato Vine out of the pot, you might find a massive, potato-like tuber in the soil. While these are edible, they won't taste very good (they are bred for leaves, not sugar!). If you live in a frost-free area, you can leave them; otherwise, you can try to store the tuber in a cool, dry basement over winter to replant next year!