sweet potato vine
Ipomoea batatas
USDA zones9 to 11
SunHandles full sun to partial sun
WaterHandles dry to wet soil
Size9 to 18 inches tall1.5 to 2.5 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Climbing
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Purple
- Foliage color
- Gray/silver, green, purple/lavender, variegated
- Soil types
- Loam
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is a perennial for containers, pollinator gardens, and food gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes full or part sun and dry to wet, loamy soil. It grows fast, tolerates drought, and draws bees to its purple flowers. Deer usually look elsewhere for a meal. Its leaves come in gray, green, purple, and variegated forms.
Pairs well with Nasturtium, Black-eyed Susan, and Northwind switchgrass.
Native range
Mexico.