James Burghardt
Family
Convolvulaceae
Botanical Name
Ipomoea batatas 'Sweet Caroline Purple'( SWEET CAROLINE™ PURPLE, SWEET CAROLINE™ SERIES) PP14912
Plant Common Name
Sweet Caroline™ Purple Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet Potato Vine
General Description
The deep dusty purple leaves of 'Sweet Caroline Purple' are deeply lobed and compliment many other colorful bedding plants for sun. This easy to grow, moderately compact, trailing vine is well-branched and ideal for container culture. It is vigorous and was bred at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The sweet potato is a tender perennial that is borne from edible, fleshy, tuberous roots that have a smooth or stringy texture and sweet flavor. Ornamental forms, like 'Sweet Caroline Purple', are grown primarily as lush foliage plants. The lobed leaves of this gem are deep purple. It will produce funnel-shaped flowers of lavender-white on rare occasion when days are short.
Sweet potato vine 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. This is a stellar container and hanging basket plant. It is also perfect for any flower garden where quick foliar color is needed.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 13
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
6"-8" / 15.2cm - 20.3cm
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Width
10"-12" / 25.4cm - 30.5cm
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Bloom Time
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter
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Native To
Central America, South America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Pollution
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Growth Rate
Very Fast
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Habit
Vining/Climbing
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Lavender
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Purple
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Purple
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Purple
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Purple
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Hummingbirds
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Self-Sowing
No
