Sweet potato vines (Ipomoea batatas) are indigenous to the tropical state of Indonesia, meaning they require both warm conditions here in america. If you would like to successfully develop sweet potato vines, you must live in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. The vines themselves will give your garden with ample color out of their bright leaves, however, the beauty of the leaves can soften the flowers these sculptures produce.
Ornamental Versus Edible Sweet Potato Vine
Ornamental sweet potato vines are linked to creamy sweet potatoes and to morning glories, however they have colorful leaves as opposed to plain green ones. Unlike edible sweet potatoes, which have green leaves, the tubers made by ornamental sweet potatoes are bitter and inedible. Edible sweet potato vines and a few ornamental varieties bloom with flowers which resemble morning glories in shape, however a few ornamental sweet potato vines do not blossom, according to Missouri Botanical Garden.
Foliage
The foliage of ornamental sweet potato vines is why they’re increased. Varieties of the type of sweet potato may bear black, chartreuse or red leaves. Because the leaves are so eye-catching on ornamental sweet potato vines, any flowers that appear will be inconspicuous. Edible sweet potatoes produce light green leaves which let the flowers that develop stand out more.
Flowers
The flowers that are produced on both ornamental and creamy sweet potatoes have a trumpet form and may be pale purple or pink in color. Often the leaves of ornamental varieties conceals the flowers behind their large leaves or camouflages the flowers by the bright hues of the leaves drawing the eye in the light flowers.
Bloom Time
If you’re seeking flowers on your own sweet potato vine, pay close attention to the plant at the end of the growing season. You may have to transfer leaf to observe the flowers, that will likely be inconspicuous.
