This herbaceous perennial has tuber-like roots and slender branched trailing stems that root at the nodes, forming a dense prostrate to climbing habit. It has dark green heart-shaped or lobed leaves and the pale mauve funnel-shaped flowers appear solitary in spring.

Hardiness zones 9 to 12

Ipomoea batatas is thought to be naturally found in northern tropical South America and has been cultivated for over 5,000 years and is now naturalised throughout Asia, Australia and Africa. It is grown worldwide for its editable roots from sea level to an altitude of 3,000 m (9,842 ft). 

It prefers an open sunny, hot position and grows in well-drained moderately fertile deep friable moist sandy loams that are acidic tending neutral with a pH range from 4.5 to 6.6. It is drought tolerant but frost tender and prefers a temperature above 24º C (77º F).

Sweet Potato is grown for its edible root and its dense foliage cover. It is easy to cultivate and it is grown as a ground cover in a small gardens or on embankments and it can be trained on a wire fence for screening. It is also planted around water features for a tropical effect and several cultivars are grown for colour contrast. 

This perennial is grown commercially on farms as a warm season root vegetable that has a wide range of culinary uses and is highly nutritious. It is popular in Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines and is suitable for coastal and low mountain regions. It is very vigorous establishing in one season and may be treated as an annual. The leaves and stems are used as a fodder for animals and alcohol can be produced from the roots. ID 2266

Ipomoea (ip-oh-MEE-a) batatas (bat-TAT-as)

Convolvulaceae (kon-volv-yoo-LAY-see-ee)
Morning Glories and Bindweeds