How to identify Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)

How to identify Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)

Sweet potato vine, also known as Kumara, Yam

Sweet potato vine is recognized by its lush, hearty vines which can exhibit vigorous growth, often covering the ground comprehensively. It boasts heart-shaped to palmately lobed leaves, depending on the specific variety. The foliage may grow up to 5 inches (13 cm) in length. This plant also produces funnel-shaped flowers, offering a display that is characteristic of the Convolvulaceae family. The sprawling nature of sweet potato vine complements its ornamental appeal, making it a prevalent option for both aesthetic and functional ground cover.

Lifespan: Perennial, Annual, Biennial

Plant Type: Vine, Herb

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Sweet potato vine

Heart-shaped to palmately lobed leaves up to 5 inches (13 cm) long.

Funnel-shaped white or purplish flowers in cymes, 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) wide.

Small, black-seeded fruit in 5-8 mm capsules, quarter to a third of an inch long.

Prostrate or ascending stems up to 13 feet (4 meters) long, with milky juice.

Smooth-textured leaves with ovate-cordate to palmate shapes, spirally arranged.

Detailed Traits of Sweet potato vine

Leaf Features

The leaves of sweet potato vine are heart-shaped and lobed, measuring approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in length. They exhibit a range of colors, from green to yellowish or purplish hues, depending on the variety. The leaf shapes vary from ovate-cordate to palmate, with entire or palmately lobed margins. These leaves are spirally arranged on stems and attached via long petioles. Their texture is smooth, with a prominent vein pattern that contributes to their distinctive appearance.

Leaf Shape

Ovate ,

Cordate ,

Palmate

Leaf Type

Simple

Leaf Base

Cordate ,

Truncate

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Apex

Acuminate ,

Acute

Leaf Margin

Palmate ,

Entire

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of sweet potato vine are reminiscent of morning glory, featuring a funnel shape. They come in shades of white or purplish and are produced sparingly. Each flower, about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in diameter, is either borne singly or grouped in flat-topped inflorescences called cymes. The petals are arranged symmetrically, creating an appealing, uniform appearance. These axillary flowers bloom periodically, adding a subtle yet charming aspect to the plant's overall presentation.

Corolla Type

Campanulate ,

Funnelform

Inflorescence Type

Cymes

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stems of sweet potato vine are prostrate or ascending, slender, and occasionally twining, extending up to 13 feet (4 meters) in length. They generate a characteristic milky juice. Many lateral stems emerge from each main stem, showcasing a branching pattern. The stems are typically flexible and can vary in thickness, adapting to multiple growth forms.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of sweet potato vine is a small capsule that ranges from 5-8 mm in length. This modestly-sized fruit harbors 1-4 seeds, each encased in a very hard seed coat. The seeds within are notably black, providing a stark contrast to the lighter colored capsule. The fruit's capsule structure, its diminutive size, about a quarter to a third of an inch long, and the durable nature of the seed coats are characteristic features that aid in the identification of this fruit.

Fruit Type

Capsule

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Sweet potato vine and Their Similar Plants

Common morning glory vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Common morning glory natives in Mexico and Central America and is commonly planted as an ornamental plant prized for its colorful trumpet-shaped flowers. It is naturalized in temperate and subtropical areas globally and in many places, always grown weedy and is considered to be invasive in many parts of the world.

Blue morning glory vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Blue morning glory (Ipomoea indica) is a twining evergreen vine native to tropical environments around the world. In the morning, the plant's flowers bloom and are a bright blue. By the end of the afternoon, the blossoms fade to a purple-pink color. New flowers appear daily from late spring to early fall.

Cypress vine vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Cypress vine is a beautiful vining plant with fern-like foliage and star-shaped red flowers. Cypress vine is resistant to deer and attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in moist but not soggy soil, with full sun and a structure to climb on. This striking plant is toxic like its cousin, the Morning Glory.

Mexican morning glory vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

This vining annual, the mexican morning glory, is a great climber for trellises, with heart-shaped leaves and showy blue blooms. Morning glories get their name because they open in the morning and close in the brighter afternoon light.

Moonflower vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is a flowering plant that blooms at night. Moonflower is also called the moonflower or moon vine, and it is native to Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Florida in the United States. Moonflower is cultivated for ornamental purposes and is considered an invasive species in some areas.

Mile-A-Minute Vine vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Mile-A-Minute Vine (Ipomoea cairica) is seen all over the Hawaiian Islands because centuries ago, Polynesian explorers carried in their oceangoing canoes. It contains hydrogen cyanide so never follow the ancient Polynesians' example of roasting the tubers of the plant and eating them. It is always considered an invasive weed.

Man of the earth vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Man of the earth, or Ipomoea pandurata, is a vining perennial native to North America. Bees and hummingbirds are fond of the white flowers. It grows quickly, and the tubers in the ground are difficult to remove, so it may cause problems for the garden.

Saltmarsh morning-glory vs. Sweet potato vine: What's The Difference?

Saltmarsh morning-glory (Ipomoea sagittata) is a trailing perennial vine that will grow to 1.8 m long. Native to the southern United States, it can be found in Florida’s marshes and mangrove swamps. It blooms in summer and fall with showy, funnel-shaped pink to purple flowers that bloom in the morning and close in the afternoon. Thrives in full sun to partial shade.

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Key Facts About Sweet potato vine

Attributes of Sweet potato vine

Lifespan

Perennial, Annual, Biennial

Plant Type

Vine, Herb

Plant Height

1.8 m to 3 m

Spread

2.5 m to 3 m

Leaf Color

Green

Yellow

Red

Purple

Flower Size

3 cm to 4 cm

Flower Color

White

Pink

Purple

Fruit Color

Red

Purple

Orange

Stem Color

Green

Purple

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Sweet potato vine

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Nightshades, bindweeds, gooseweeds, and allies

Family

Morning-glory

Genus

Morning glories

Species

Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)

Learn More About the Sweet potato vine

Distribution Map of Sweet potato vine

Sweet potato vine is native to South America and North America. It is widely grown in Asia, Africa and Oceania. It is growing in sunny locations with disturbed soil. It is used as a food crop.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Sweet potato vine

A Comprehensive Guide to Sweet potato vine How to Grow and Care for Sweet potato vine