Ipomoea, Ornamental Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Vine 'Margarita'
Ipomoea batatas
Family: | Convolvulaceae (kon-volv-yoo-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Ipomoea (ip-oh-MEE-a) (Info) |
Species: | batatas (bat-TAT-as) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Margarita |
Additional cultivar information: | (aka Margarite, Marguerite) |

Category:
Perennials
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Vines and Climbers
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Grown for foliage
Herbaceous
Foliage Color:
Chartreuse/Yellow
Height:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Spacing:
9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
15-18 in. (38-45 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Where to Grow:
Can be grown as an annual
Danger:
N/A
Bloom Color:
Lavender
Bloom Characteristics:
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
N/A
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information:
Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From herbaceous stem cuttings
By grafting
By budding
By simple layering
By air layering
By tip layering
By serpentine layering
By stooling or mound layering
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Irvington, Alabama
Opp, Alabama
Chandler, Arizona
Goodyear, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
Elkins, Arkansas
Pearcy, Arkansas
Calistoga, California
Clovis, California
Laguna Niguel, California
Los Angeles, California
Rialto, California
Sacramento, California
San Bernardino, California
San Francisco, California
Stockton, California
Vallejo, California
Aurora, Colorado
Bartow, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Clermont, Florida
Deltona, Florida(2 reports)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida(2 reports)
Fort Myers, Florida(3 reports)
Gulf Breeze, Florida
Hobe Sound, Florida
Holiday, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Mango, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida(2 reports)
Orlando, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida
Rockledge, Florida
Saint Augustine, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Titusville, Florida
Webster, Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Covington, Georgia
Lawrenceville, Georgia
Mcdonough, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia(2 reports)
Thomasville, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Grayslake, Illinois
Brownsburg, Indiana
Carmel, Indiana
Wadesville, Indiana
Britt, Iowa
Lansing, Kansas
Liberty, Kansas
Barbourville, Kentucky
Ewing, Kentucky
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Belle Rose, Louisiana
Covington, Louisiana
Gonzales, Louisiana
Kenner, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Marion, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana(3 reports)
Thibodaux, Louisiana(2 reports)
Cumberland, Maryland
Lynn, Massachusetts
Trenton, Michigan
Troy, Michigan
Columbus, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Mathiston, Mississippi
Moss Point, Mississippi
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
New Madrid, Missouri
Las Vegas, Nevada
Kingston, New Hampshire
Howell, New Jersey
Neptune, New Jersey
South Plainfield, New Jersey
Roswell, New Mexico
Fishkill, New York
Pulaski, New York
Webster, New York
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Harmony, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Matthews, North Carolina
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Carolina
Taylorsville, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Albany, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Dublin, Ohio
Duncan, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Schulter, Oklahoma
Stilwell, Oklahoma
Albany, Oregon
Gold Hill, Oregon
Portland, Oregon(7 reports)
Northampton, Pennsylvania
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Westfield, Pennsylvania
Columbia, South Carolina(2 reports)
Ladson, South Carolina
Ladys Island, South Carolina
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Arlington, Tennessee
Eads, Tennessee
Kingston, Tennessee
Lafayette, Tennessee
Bacliff, Texas
Bulverde, Texas
Chandler, Texas
Cibolo, Texas
College Station, Texas
Dallas, Texas(2 reports)
De Leon, Texas
Desoto, Texas
Edinburg, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas(2 reports)
Frisco, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Houston, Texas(6 reports)
Humble, Texas
Kingsland, Texas
League City, Texas
Liberty Hill, Texas(2 reports)
Little Elm, Texas
Mabank, Texas
Manchaca, Texas
Marquez, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
Nome, Texas
Perrin, Texas
Plano, Texas
Port Lavaca, Texas
Richmond, Texas
Roanoke, Texas
Round Rock, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Stephenville, Texas
Stinnett, Texas
Yantis, Texas
Bristol, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
GRAPEVIEW, Washington
Port Orchard, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Appleton, Wisconsin
Mukwonago, Wisconsin
Twin Lakes, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Apr 26, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: Makes a great trailing/bedding plant/groundcover here in Boston. Vigorous and fast-growing, it can crawl or trail 7' or more in a season. Great spilling over the lip of a large container. |
Positive | On Apr 26, 2015, vossner from East Texas, This is the most vigorous potato vine in my garden. I used to grow it as a groundcovet but it got so badly eaten by bugs that I stopped and just grow it in containers and hanging baskets. Don't need to buy it any more as it returns reliably year after year. Would never be w/o it |
Positive | On Apr 29, 2014, siege2055 from Stilwell, OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Easy to overwinter in a slightly heated greenhouse that stays above 45 or so, if it gets much colder, it will wilt in my experience, but recover when it heats up. Too many times, or constantly may kill the foliage. |
Positive | On Apr 18, 2013, Jarolalo from Dallas, TX wrote: I am in Dallas, which I think is important to the discussion. After trying these in baskets, I learned very quickly that I had to a) water them several times a day; b) get rid of them; c) get them into the ground or into a much larger container than the typical hanging basket. Except when wilted, they are so showy that "b" was not an option. The ground was the best solution (assuming you understand "the ground" in Dallas means a prepared bed rather than nature's black clay). The ground not only solves the watering problem, but, to my surprise, the plants come back, as one is doing right now. The first time one showed up for its second year, it almost filled a tree circle that is 14 feet in diameter. Gorgeous! They also do well in whiskey barrel sized planters. AND, they do well in ... read more |
Positive | On Sep 29, 2011, ctlandscaper from Long Hill, CT wrote: Awesome lime-green color adds drama and color to the landscape. Will take over if you let it, so don't cram other flowering annuals near it. Looks great paired with the red variety as well. Highly recommend. |
Positive | On Jul 1, 2011, marcoux from Albany, OH wrote: Growing rapidly and beautifully on East side of house. All I do is water it each mornig before the sun comes up. Does anyone know if it will grow indoors? |
Positive | On Aug 17, 2010, fla1garden from Mango, FL wrote: So far no one has posted that this sweet potato was also edible . It tastes like a cross between an Irish & and a sweet potato. In my experience nothing can stop it but Cold weather in the south , around Nov & Dec then it has potatoes , then if you are in the south you dig & cover with leaves . Also a warning we also get bugs that eat the potatoes , also slugs & snails . Ant bait & slug bate take care of this. Flagardener |
Positive | On Aug 2, 2010, Crit from Sand Springs (Tulsa), OK (Zone 7a) wrote: Great plant in both the green and purple variety. I've had good luck with both. The purple vine seemed to do better when getting morning sun and aftenoon shade. I have it in full sun now and it isn't growing as fast or as deep purple. It is a purplish-green. The green variety is terrific. I have multiple plants from the original one I planted in May. The easiest to root!!!! Just cut off the end of one of the runners, about 12" long, pick off the lower leaves and stick it in the dirt. Water well & keep damp. After a couple of days of wilting, it pops back up and takes off growing. The parent plant is in filtered shade, 3 in partial shade and 2 in full sun. I didn't have good luck last year in full sun, but the pot may of been too small. I've not seen any flowers but love the ... read more |
Positive | On Jul 23, 2010, gunnelclifford from Mundelein, IL wrote: The most beautiful vine and easiest to grow. One set back, in a container with other plants, it does take over. It starts out looking gorgeous with a spike in the middle, a couple of large red geraniums, some dusty millers and a couple of white petunias. Even with cutting them back to make room for it's neighbors, they dominate the soil and nutrients. But alone; Gorgeous! |
Neutral | On May 21, 2010, RxAngel from Stratford, TX (Zone 6b) wrote: I had this in a giant pot last year, and have purchased another one this year. While it says full sun, I have not had much luck with this one or a black one doing well in full sun. I had to really baby them both last year...but the black one did seem to handle the sun a little better than the green one. |
Positive | On Jan 14, 2010, dorsai from North Fort Myers, FL wrote: My experience with this plant was very positive, at least until just these past two weeks when we experienced a number of nights where the temperatures dropped below 32 F. Most of the leaves on my vines turned brown. Seeing this, I uprooted the plants, only to lear by reading earlier posts here that all I might have had to do with trim and replant some of the vines I've done that today, but I was also able to harvest a number of sweet potatos. Just wondering if I should save a few and try replanting them, or just go ahead and use them in the kitchen? |
Positive | On Nov 9, 2009, VICKI9947 from Arlington, TN wrote: I love this plant. I have it planted on the east and north side of our home. It is beautiful and has nearly eliminated any weeding in these areas. I have cut the plants back and dug the tubers. The instructions to propagate from tubers says to let them dry for about 14 days to toughen the skin. Remove any roots that appear to be rotting, store in a cool, dry place in hay or dry moss. In early spring, plant the tubers in loose soil about 2 weeks before the soil reached 60 degrees. Remove the new plants from the tuber when they are 3-4 inches in height and plant in your flower beds. Leave the tuber in the ground to propagate more plants. |
Positive | On Sep 13, 2009, grrrlgeek from Grayslake, IL (Zone 5a) wrote: Adds a great bright yellow green color. I also found it will develop a thin dark margin (looked purplish) under some conditions--they did this early this year before I potted them up and none of them have it anymore, neither shade nor sun, so I'm going to work on that next year. |
Positive | On Jul 13, 2009, khabbab from lahore, It grows really fast here. Though i could not see it bloom last year. I think, short days this year will trigger its bloom this time. It has pretty foliage, grows best in soil bed. |
Positive | On Jun 22, 2009, FloridaFlwrGirl from Fort Lauderdale, FL wrote: Thhis plant is my greatest success story. In hot dry and hot wet conditions here in south florida it has flourished. I have it in both rich soil and sandy soil and in both it thrives. I bought one plant and had an incredibly easy time of propogating from clippings. Every couple of days I cut the tips off of my parent plant, dippedends in water and rooting hormone and stuck in the ground all over the place. In no time at all the babies grew rapidly. Now I don't even bother with rooting hormone as it seems unnecessary. |
Positive | On Jun 28, 2008, MaryandLance from Baton Rouge, LA wrote: I am a beginning gardener. My husband used to be the only one that was interested in plants. He planted two Queen Palms, pretty tall, in a corner area of the yard near our new pool. We put some plants in there, however it looked sparse as they were all new, and I knew he would mulch it if I didn't think of something....I transplanted one Sweet Potato Vine back around Mid-April. Today it has completely taken over (in a good way). I love to check out it's new growth every day. It's in full sun. It actually seems to like the heavy rains we've been having. When it starts to overtake another plant, I merely cut the leaves back and put them in an 'empty' spot as 'mulch'. It has completely filled out that back corner just as I wanted it to. In areas where it is starting to take off whe... read more |
Positive | On Jun 3, 2008, jpayne4246 from Fort Myers, FL wrote: I've had a strip along the driveway that's been a weedpatch. Weeds are plentiful in southwest Florida, and mulch is one way to keep them down and keep moisture in the ground, but the weeds still grow and the mulch has to be redone regularly. So I thought, how about a groundcover that's prettier than mulch but will accomplish the same? I round-up'd the weeds, cleaned them out, bought a few sweet potato vine plants, mostly green and some purple (black) at the advice of my nursery, planted them and mulched (hopefully for the last time) to protect the plants and encourage their growth. I fertilized the ground and have been watering daily. They are doing phenomenally! It does appear that the weeds are not growing underneath the plants (the foliage is dense) and I am having to water less ... read more |
Positive | On Oct 26, 2007, DreamSpeaker from New Port Richey, FL wrote: I absolutly love this plant. When it is full and lush it gives out wonderful vibes that make you feel good as you stand next to it. It is very easy to propagate by tubers, cuttings, roots, just about any way you can think of. It loves the shade, the sun, and various inbetween settings. I have found that all you need to do is break off a piece and stick it into wet earth and it will grow into a lovely plant. There's really no need to put it into water and wait for roots to grow. Of course, you do need to keep it watered, especially in the heat of the day and while waiting for it to root. |
Positive | On Sep 7, 2007, kimbergirl from Elkins, AR wrote: I started planting this vine last year but it has ever grown to the extent it has this year. I have people stopping and calling asking what I planted. It has taken over my flower beds but I am not complaining. It is just beautiful! I need to know how to store? or try to keep them until next spring. I would like detailed info like do I wait until the plant dies and then harvest all of the potatoes? etc. I would really appreciate the help. Thanks, Kim |
Positive | On Sep 1, 2007, brummbaer2 from Greensboro, NC wrote: Amazingly easy for us to grow. One vine planted in the ground has surrounded our mailbox and grows freely in full sun. Several vines in planters grow well from full to partial sun. The vine is much more restrained in a planter but still has the vigor to cascade over the sides. We have used a readily available plant food supplement about once a month for the planter vines. |
Positive | On Sep 3, 2006, realyred1 from Lincoln(Beamsville), I have this plant growing in 4 containers with its counterpart "blackie" they have been growing amazing. I have them facing west were they receive afternoon sun 2 of the boxes have more shade due to trees and i find the lime ones like the shade more so than blackie, |
Neutral | On Apr 3, 2006, Suze_ from (Zone 7b) wrote: I've gotten a little burned out on this one -- one just sees it used so often anymore. I used to plant it in large containers with cannas for 'filler'. |
Positive | On Nov 21, 2005, Tomyslady from Zolfo Springs, FL (Zone 9a) wrote: I have this plant as a ground cover, it is doing beautiful. I live in Zolfo Springs FL, zone 9a. I would like to know if the tubers are edible? I found one, when I was digging. |
Positive | On Jul 15, 2005, Larabee from Houston, TX wrote: In hot Texas, this plant grows extremely quickly--up to a couple feet in one week. It will also grow here in full sun, part sun, part shade, or full shade--it's pretty happy to grow anywhere you can plant it. The leaves look like large morning glory leaves. It looks fantastic in containers with other plants, and can cascade over the sides of the container (if you unwind it from the other plants first, because it will try to climb them) or will climb a trellis or other support behind the container. I've got it growing with red coleus and purple Persian Shield, and the contrast for the colors is wonderful. |
Positive | On Jul 8, 2005, darylmitchell from Saskatoon, SK (Zone 3a) wrote: In 2005, I grew two in a container on a windy south-facing patio. They started off well but went downhill quickly when the foliage became bleached and dried around the edges. I am not certain if it was because of the direct sun or the wind drying it out, but I won't be trying it in this type of location again. In the same pot I had some "Blackie" sweet potato which fared far better. I ended up transplanting one into another container and the other into the ground. Both recovered a bit, but stayed as just small clumps until frost did them in. |
Positive | On Jul 4, 2005, mkjones from Aurora, TX (Zone 8a) wrote: Super positive! I love this plant. I buy only one per year--then, I propagate it into numerous hanging baskets and garden beds.........it's gorgeous in a mass planting, just stunning! |
Positive | On Jan 9, 2005, jnn from Pittsboro, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: This is a great plant for any kind of place where it can trail or cascade over things. Great for window boxes. It can grow quite large, as ours did this summer. It is a wonderful bright green and goes well with purple or red plants. |
Positive | On Jul 31, 2004, glitter6 from Detroit, MI wrote: I live in zone 6- the sweet potato vine is doing great. Does anyone know how it grows inside ? |
Positive | On May 7, 2004, scooterbug from Tellico Plains, TN (Zone 7b) wrote: I use this as an annual for my zone 5 garden. No invasiveness as they cannot overwinter in the ground. Use it for underplanting. |
Positive | On Sep 9, 2003, DestinysPoetry from Fort Myers, FL (Zone 11) wrote: I started the vine from a store bought sweet potato. In no time, there were tubers growing from the potato, and I planted it to soil. I did have trouble with the potato rotting, so I cut off the tubers, and potted them into soil. The bloom in the picture is the end result. A very easy plant to grow, loves sun, and lots of water. |
Neutral | On Sep 8, 2003, Toxicodendron from Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: Although this plant grows like wildfire, it also draws more than it's share of insects. Whiteflies absolutely adore the chartreuse color and there is also an insect that eats round holes in the leaves at night (not slugs). The leaves look like they have been shot with a BB gun. I have just about stopped growing it altogether, since it is very difficult to spray or powder the undersides of a groundcover. In pots it is easier to spray, but the plant is so vigorous it needs constant watering in containers. The roundish tubers are a bright purple color and can get bigger than honeydew melons. They behave like dahlia tubers and only sprout from the stem end, so be careful not to damage the growing points when digging and storing. If you can grow year round, take tip cuttings and root in water t... read more |
Neutral | On Apr 21, 2003, Bug_Girl from San Francisco, CA wrote: Mine did not live through the winter and I am zone 10. |
Positive | On Aug 29, 2002, Wingnut from Spicewood, TX (Zone 8b) wrote: Wonderful trailing plant! Great for adding a little spicey foliage to containers and flowerbeds. Definitely different. |