Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
  
Grass
  
Origin
Latin America and the Caribbean, Central America, Micronesia
  
Middle Africa
  
Types
Hannah Yams, Japanese Sweet Potatoes
  
Not Available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cold Regions, Tropical regions
  
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-12
  
7-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
12 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Not Available
  
Sandy Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Purple, Light Green, Chartreuse, Bronze
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Purple
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter
  
Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Stem Cutting, Tuber propagation
  
Budding, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs a lot of water initially
  
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Beetles, Leafminers, Red blotch
  
Insects, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Aphids, Beetles, Mites, white worms
  
Birds, Flying insects
  
Allergy
Abdominal pain, Skin rash, Swelling, Vomiting
  
Asthma, breathing problems
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin C
  
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Shoots
  
Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Food for animals, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Vine
  
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
IPOMOEA batatas
  
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
  
Common Name
Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Vine
  
Elephant Grass
  
In Hindi
शकरकंद
  
हाथी घास
  
In German
Süßkartoffel
  
Elefantengras
  
In French
Patate douce
  
l'herbe à éléphant
  
In Spanish
Batata
  
pasto elefante
  
In Greek
Γλυκοπατάτα
  
ελέφαντα χόρτο
  
In Portuguese
Batata doce
  
capim-elefante
  
In Polish
Słodki ziemniak
  
trawa słoniowa
  
In Latin
Dulcis SOLANUM TUBEROSUM
  
elephanti herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Solanales
  
Poales
  
Family
Convolvulaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Ipomoea
  
Pennisetum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available