Ornamental Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie')

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sweetpotatoes
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Sun Requirements
Full Sun, Full Sun to Partial Shade
Uses
Groundcover, Suitable as Annual, Vegetable
Containers
Needs excellent drainage in pots, Suitable for hanging baskets, Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Flower Color
Bi-Color: Variable; white or lavender with a purple center.
Flower Time
Late spring or early summer, Late summer or early fall, Other: Blooms only occasionally. Usually from spring to fall., Summer
Flowers
Other, Showy
Fruit
Dehiscent, Other: Fruit is rare and only occurs with cross-pollinated flowers. The fruit is a capsule that splits open at maturity. The seeds inside are toxic and contain LSA.
Leaves
Unusual foliage color
Life cycle
Perennial
Minimum cold hardiness
Zone 11 +4.4 °C (40 °F) to +7.2 °C (50 °F)
Plant Habit
Vine
Plant Height
6-12 inches
Plant Spread
3 - 6 feet
Propagation: Other methods
Cuttings: Stem, Cuttings: Tip, Other: tuber (fat root)
Awards and Recognitions
Other: 2001 Georgia Gold Medal Winner
Propagation: Seeds
Other info: Seeds are rare and are mostly only used in breeding programs., Scarify seeds: Scarify gently and plant. Soaking in water also helps., Will not come true from seed
Detailed Information

While ‘Blackie’ is a cultivar of the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), it’s important to distinguish between the ornamental variety and the traditional food crop.

Here’s the breakdown:

* **Ipomoea batatas (Sweet Potato in general):** Native to **Central and South America**. The exact origin is believed to be somewhere between the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico and the Orinoco River basin of Venezuela.

* **Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’ (Ornamental Sweet Potato):** ‘Blackie’ is a cultivated variety bred for its striking dark foliage. It doesn’t have a specific ‘native region’ in the same way as the species. **It’s a product of horticultural breeding and selection, most likely from the USA or Japan**, where a lot of ornamental plant breeding occurs. It wouldn’t naturally be found in the wild.

Therefore, while the sweet potato *species* originates in Central and South America, the ornamental cultivar ‘Blackie’ is a result of modern breeding and its origin is more connected to the places where horticultural companies are located.

Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Suitable for hanging baskets, Needs excellent drainage in pots