Sweet Potato.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial vegetable

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 2 to 4 days

Mature size

6 to 10 feet long

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 9 to 11

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to encourage healthy tuber development. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Provide plenty of space for the vines to sprawl or climb.

Watering

Water deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Use a balanced fertilizer once a month during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back long vines if they start to overtake your garden space.

Repotting

Repot only if you are growing them in containers and the roots become crowded.

Soil

Well draining sandy loam

Soil pH

5.5 to 6.5

Temperature

15 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Tender perennial, often grown as an annual.

Deer and rabbits

Low

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered non toxic, but ingestion of large amounts of raw foliage is not recommended.

Children

The tubers are firm and could pose a choking hazard if eaten raw by small children.

Contact allergens

Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from the milky sap.

Airborne allergens

There are no notable airborne allergy risks associated with this plant.

Edibility

Only specific cultivars are bred for edible tubers, while ornamental varieties may not taste good or could be treated with chemicals.

How to identify it

• Heart shaped or lobed green leaves
• Vining stems that spread quickly
• Edible starchy tubers underground
• Trumpet shaped flowers in some varieties

Height

0.15 to 0.3m

Spread

0.6 to 2m

Leaves

green, purple, bronze, variegated, deciduous

Flowers

pink, white, lavender, 4 to 6cm

Fruit

brown, tan, red, purple, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Leaf SpotCommon
• Sweet Potato WeevilCommon
• Root RotUncommon
• Stem RotUncommon
• Tuber RotUncommon
• WhiteflyUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, division

When to plant

Spring

Overwintering

In cold climates, lift the tubers in autumn after the foliage dies back. Store them in a box with peat moss in a cool, frost free location until spring.

In containers

They grow exceptionally well in containers, requiring at least a 30 centimeter wide pot for healthy root development.

Plant them in mounds to ensure good drainage for the developing tubers.

Grows well with

• Corn · The tall stalks provide a structure for the vines to climb if desired.
• Marigold · They help deter soil pests that might bother the roots.

Similar species

• Morning Glory · A close relative grown primarily for its showy flowers.

Science

Family

Convolvulaceae

Genus

Ipomoea

Order

Solanales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Tropical regions of the Americas.

Conservation

This plant is widely cultivated and is not of conservation concern.

It thrives in warm, sunny environments and spreads rapidly across the ground to outcompete weeds.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Uses

ground cover, container plant, edible tuber, hanging basket

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I eat the tubers of ornamental sweet potato vines?

While technically edible, they are often bred for leaf color rather than flavor and may be bitter.

How do I overwinter them?

Dig up the tubers before the first frost, clean them, and store them in a cool, dark place.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Ipomoea comes from the Greek words for worm and likeness, referring to the twining habit of the stems.

Good to know

• Sweet potatoes are not related to true yams.
• The leaves are edible and often used in stir fries.
• They grow very quickly in warm weather.
• They were domesticated in Central and South America thousands of years ago.