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Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'

Image of Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'

James H. Schutte

Family

Convolvulaceae

Botanical Name

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'

Plant Common Name

Blackie Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet Potato Vine

General Description

The dark deeply lobed foliage of this popular trailing sweet potato vine contrasts well with many flowering bedding plants. It is a super foliage plant for containers, annual borders and hanging baskets.

This tender perennial is borne from edible fleshy tuberous roots. It is a vigorous, herbaceous, vine that originates from Central and northern South America. It’s admired for its five-lobed leaves of dark purple-black to dark green that appear along long trailing stems. Occasionally in summer they will produce funnel-shaped flowers of dusty rose-purple.

This plant thrives in heat and is as easy as pie to grow. It prefers fertile, well-drained soil and full to partial sun. In warmer zones it will survive winters and grow as an evergreen perennial, but in temperate zones it’s treated as an annual. 'Blackie’ can also be grown as an herbaceous groundcover because it spreads thickly and indefinitely.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 1

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    10 - 13

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Bulb or Corm or Tuber

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    5'-20' / 1.5m - 6.1m (12)

  • Bloom Time

    Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall

  • Native To

    Central America, South America

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Pollution

  • Growth Rate

    Very Fast

  • Habit

    Vining/Climbing

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Purple, Rose

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Purple, Dark Green, Black

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Purple, Dark Green, Black

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Black

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy, Black

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Coarse

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Edible, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Vine

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    No