7 Sweet Potato Vine Varieties That Stun in Containers

Ornamental sweet potato vines trail, and keep trailing, for vertical interest in pots, planter boxes, window boxes, and hanging baskets. Their broad leaves are deeply lobed or heart-shaped in chartreuse, dark purple, and variegated. New hues and variations bring a full, dramatic look to annual displays. The quintessential “spiller” goes with everything, from perennials to annuals, to highlight the season.

Sweet potato vine varieties lend a tropical look and bold color to annual containers. Low-maintenance and robust, they’re an easy addition to pots with quick growth during warm conditions. Tuck them in for instant filler and lasting color throughout the season.

About Sweet Potato Vine

Ornamental sweet potato vine, or sweetpotato vine, is an easy-care annual outside of tropical climates (USDA zones 9-11). The Mexican natives tolerate short dry spells and thrive in heat and humidity. Dappled shade offers relief from intense afternoon rays and high temperatures, which lead to temporary wilting. Resilient, the vines perk up with regular moisture and cool evening temperatures. 

Sweet potato vines are vigorous and continue to grow and run to fill and spill over the edge of a container. Some varieties have a tendency to barrel over other plants as they run, spreading up to six feet. Stems respond well to trimming midseason to keep them from becoming rangy as summer progresses. Cutting them back lightly encourages a flush of new growth. Frost-sensitive, Ipomoea batatas dies back when temperatures dip in fall.

Ornamental sweet potato vine varieties are edible when cultivated properly, but differ from the root vegetables we eat (Solanum tuberosum). Those cultivated for their ornamental appeal produce small tubers, like mini sweet potatoes, that are dense and starchy without the sugars. They are edible, if not as flavorful, raw or cooked.

In pots and containers, use a quality potting mix for good aeration, drainage, moisture retention, and nutrition. The annuals do best in organically rich soils with even moisture, though they’re somewhat drought-tolerant once established.

‘Margarita’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘Margarita’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-10”
	hardiness zones 9-11

‘Margarita,’ or ‘Marguerite,’ brings a burst of chartreuse to the container arrangement. Large, bright leaves line vigorous mounding, trailing stems. The classic lime variety trails five to six feet for lush color and takes trimming well to reign them in.

‘Margarita’ is a top performer and award winner for its easy performance and high color. The bright green pairs with any other bloom or foliage color, and is especially striking with magenta and cool purples, blues, and whites.

‘Blackie’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘Blackie’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-12”
	hardiness zones 9-11

‘Blackie’ shows deeply lobed leaves in dark purple-black. The tropical look and bold color contrast with other bloomers in dramatic fashion. The dynamic addition of dark tones is an asset of the annual not found in many other plants, especially in quick-growing vines. Mixed with other greens and chartreuse, the black foliage is an eye-catching neutral. Partner it with red or magenta flowers for a standout planter.

Add sweet potato vine for seasonal visual interest in pollinator container gardens. In addition to their foliage, sweet potato vines intermittently produce lavender-pink, trumpet-shaped flowers that attract pollinators. ‘Blackie’ is one of the ornamental varieties with good production of lilac blooms. The large leaves provide shelter for beneficial insects throughout the summer.

‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Mahogany’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-031SHMG’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-16”
	hardiness zones 9-11

The ‘Sweet Caroline Sweetheart’ series of sweet potato vines boasts leafy stems on compact forms that are perfect for containers. Without sprawling vines, the series works well with others in a pot without becoming aggressive. 

‘Sweetheart Mahogany’ spreads just under three feet wide and has a full, mounding habit with stems that trail as they mature. Heart-shaped leaves have shorter internodes along the stem and are burnished chocolate red, with new growth and stems in bright green. Sweet potato vine shows the best color and vigor in full sun or with at least four hours of sunlight daily.

‘Sweetheart Mahogany’ retains its color all season, showing improvement over other red varieties. The saturated leaves pair beautifully with petunia and calibrachoa in addition to other purple and lime Ipomoea varieties. Look for Sweet Caroline Sweetheart ‘Jet Black’ and ‘Lime’ for other pigment-rich container additions with a dense, gently cascading habit.

‘Tricolor’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘Tricolor’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 9-11

‘Tricolor’ cools down the composition with mint green leaves with creamy white and lilac pink splashes. Less vigorous than other robust varieties, it won’t overtake nearby plants or sprawl out of control.

With painted edges, ‘Tricolor’ contrasts with cool-toned blooming annuals. Give them a trim if stems become sparse or leggy as the season wears on. Cut just above a leaf node to spur fresh growth.

‘Illusion® Midnight Lace’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘NCORNSP-011MNLC’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-10”
	hardiness zones 9-11

Illusion® ‘Midnight Lace’ sweet potato vine shines in containers with palmate leaves that have slender lobes. In dark purple-black with olive undertones, the dark leaves feature a lighter underside in plum-magenta along with veins, midribs, and stems.

‘Midnight Lace’ with its threadleaf foliage brings a medium texture to the arrangement for featured interest. Low mounding and lightly spreading, stems reach two to three feet. The Illusion series includes ‘Emerald Lace’ and ‘Garnet Lace’ as pretty potted additions and is slightly smaller and less aggressive than larger forms.

‘Sweet Caroline Upside® Key Lime’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Upside® Key Lime’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 36-72”
	hardiness zones 9-11

For a complete twist on the classic cascading habit, the Upside® series brings climbing sweet potato vines. In bright yellow green like ‘Key Lime’ and bronzy burgundy ‘Black Coffee,’ the climbers are a unique spin in pots. 

Stems grow tall on upright supports for vertical interest, with a width of 18 to 36 inches. Without support, they trail and cascade. Train them by tying stems to poles or trellises as they grow for the upright effect.

‘Sidekick™ Bronze’

	botanical name Ipomoea batatas ‘Sidekick™ Bronze’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-12”
	hardiness zones 9-11

The Sidekick™ series brings well-behaved, durable sweet potato vine varieties to round out the blended container. The mannerly habit remains low at under a foot tall, with stems that grow up to three feet. 

With quick growth and a semi-trailing form, ‘Sidekick™ Bronze’ shows softly muted light green and golden-red leaves. In burnished burgundy, pair them with deep purples and blues for a stunning complement to their sunset shades. Foliage holds its distinct coloration without fading throughout the summer.

Others in the series include ‘Lacey Lime’ and ‘Heart Black’ that represent its range of leaf shapes and rich pigmented hues.