It’s hard to believe, but the sweet potato plant is a cousin of
the morning glory. Go figure! These big bright green vining
leaves are what many gardeners are after. Whether you choose to
use this savory beauty as an ornamental or as a crop is your
choice. Sweet potatoes are thought to be from Central or South
America originally. In Peru, remnants of the sweet potato dating
as far back as 8000 BC have been found, according to Wikipedia.
It is thought that this plant is usually spread by vine cuttings
as opposed to seed. The Polynesian area of the Cook Islands has
a carbon-dated sweet potato from 1000 AD, probably spread to
this part of the world through cuttings. Sweet potatoes need
plenty of water and sun to grow. They do not tolerate frost.
Their favorite temperature is 75 degrees with warm nights.
Favorite cultivars for ornamental sweet potato plants are
Blackie, Ace of Spades and ‘Margarita. Remember that a sweet
potato and a yam are not the same thing. It is not even in the
yam family. It isn’t even clos