Ornamental Sweet Potato 'Blackie' (Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'): Deep Purple Foliage Vine

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie', the Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine or Sweet Potato Vine 'Blackie', is a vigorous, trailing annual grown for its stunning, deeply lobed, purple-black foliage. It's a staple in containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds for bold color contrast.

Botanical Profile

Culture & Uses

A selection of the edible sweet potato, bred for foliage, not tubers. It trails 3–6 feet (or more) in a season, with large, palmately lobed leaves of intense, glossy purple-black. Small, pale lavender flowers may appear but are insignificant. It loves full sun, heat, and moist, well-drained soil; grows explosively in summer.

Grown as an annual everywhere. Perfect as a "spiller" in mixed containers, groundcover in beds, or cascading over walls. The dark foliage sets off chartreuse, silver, pink, and white companions beautifully. Pinch to encourage branching. May produce small, inedible tubers. A high-impact, easy-care foliage annual for sun.