Blackie Sweet Potato is an ornamental cultivar of the herbaceous perennial with a mounding habit and trailing stems that is grown as a groundcover. The large deeply-lobed foliage deepens to a stunning near-black burgundy. Blooms in spring, but are often removed to encourage foliage health. Best color with full sun and consistently moist well-drained soils. Ornamental cultivars do not flower, and while still edible are not as tasty.
Type: |
Annual |
Origins: |
Central and South America |
Height: |
0.5' - 1' |
Spread: |
4' - 5' |
Spacing: |
4.5’ |
USDA Hardiness Zone: |
9 - 11 |
Culture: |
|
Bloom Color: |
N/A |
Season of Interest: |
MAINTENANCE NEEDS: Low maintenance. Fungal leaf diseases can be somewhat common. Watch for slugs, thrips, and flea beetles.
LANDSCAPE USES: Accents or Group Plantings, Borders, Wildlife Gardens, Naturalized Areas, and Containers.
COMPANION PLANTS: Geranium, Verbena, Petunia
IMAGES: Leonora (Ellie) Enking, Red and black foliage, (2) photoset by daryl_mitchell, (1) Coleus, Lantana and Ipomoea - June (4756570199), CC BY-SA 2.0, (2) Coleus, Lantana and Ipomoea - August (5147858554), CC BY-SA 2.0, (3) set by James St. John, (1) Ipomoea batatas 'blackie' (Blackie sweet potato vine) 1, CC BY 2.0, (2) Ipomoea batatas 'blackie' (Blackie sweet potato vine) 2, CC BY 2.0, (4) Photo by David J. Stang, Ipomoea batatas Blackie 0zz, CC BY-SA 4.0
*As plants have ranges in appearance they may not appear as the images shown.