Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Succulent
Origin
Central America, South America
Southern Africa
Types
Vine, Flowering plant
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
All sorts of environments, Along Railroads, Banks, Moist Ditches, Roadsides, rocky banks of streams
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
10-12
Sunset Zone
21,22
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Twisted/Contorted
Minimum Width
Not Available
Flower Color
Purple, Rose
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Black
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Acicular
Succulent
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Tuber propagation
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Keep the Soil well drained, Needs very little water
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Beetles, Cutworms, Insects, Mites, Whiteflies
Butterflies
Allergy
Abdominal pain, allergic reaction, Nausea, Skin rash, Twitching of face
no allergic reactions
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Cures constipation, Fiber, Low calories, lowering blood pressure, Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Root, Shoots, Stem, Tuber
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Starch, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Vine
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
IPOMOEA batatas 'Blackie'
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Blackie Sweet Potato Vine, Sweet Potato Vine
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
शकरकन्द
Elephant Bush
In German
Süßkartoffel
Elephant Bush
In French
Patate douce
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Ipomoea batatas
elefante Bush
In Greek
Sweet potato
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Batata-doce
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Wilec ziemniaczany
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Ipomoea batatas
bush elephant
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Solanales
Caryophyllales
Family
Convolvulaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Ipomoea
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Not Available
Importance of Sweet Potato Vine and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Sweet Potato Vine and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Sweet Potato Vine and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Sweet Potato Vine is Cures constipation, Fiber, Low calories, lowering blood pressure, Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Sweet Potato Vine has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Sweet Potato Vine vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Sweet Potato Vine vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Sweet Potato Vine are Abdominal pain, allergic reaction, Nausea, Skin rash and Twitching of face whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Sweet Potato Vine has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Sweet Potato Vine is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Sweet Potato Vine and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.