American Plant Exchange
Sweet Potato Vine Black, 6" Pot
Best dramatic foliage for gardeners seeking low-maintenance container accents.
The Black Sweet Potato Vine, Ipomoea 'Blackie', is a tender perennial celebrated for its dramatic, deep purple, nearly black foliage. This variety offers vibrant color from spring until the first frost, making it an excellent choice for containers or garden accents. It is a low-maintenance plant that thrives in full sun to partial shade. It typically grows 6 to 12 inches tall before spreading and vining, suitable for USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11. Note that this plant is toxic if ingested by humans or pets.
$22.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
5882
/ 9317
#5882 in Potted Houseplants
Price vs Category Average
-56%
Below average
Cultivar
Blackie
/ Blackie
Who it's for
- Designers seeking bold visual contrast in container arrangements
- Busy gardeners needing resilient and low-maintenance greenery
- Decorators wanting rapid growth for lush, trailing displays
Who should skip it
- Gardeners planting in crowded, mixed-species containers
- Forgetful waterers prone to neglecting container plants
- Indoor growers concerned about potential pest infestations
Performance breakdown
Visual Impact
Deep purple foliage provides a dramatic, high-contrast aesthetic for any garden.
Maintenance Ease
Low-effort growth habit makes this an ideal choice for busy gardeners.
Versatility
Adapts seamlessly to containers, hanging baskets, or direct garden soil planting.
Growth Vigor
Rapid vining habit ensures quick coverage throughout the spring and summer.
Environmental Flexibility
Thrives in varied light conditions but requires specific warm climate zones.
Safety Profile
High toxicity levels necessitate careful placement away from pets and children.
Key Specs
Cultivar
Blackie
Botanical Name
Ipomoea
Lifespan
Tender Perennial
USDA Hardiness Zones
9-11
Ideal Temperature Range
65-85°F
Mature Height
Up to 12 inches
Toxicity
Highly toxic if ingested by humans and pets
Pot Size
6" Pot
Features
- Striking, nearly black foliage for bold color
- Low maintenance care requirements
- Vining habit for spreading or climbing
- Thrives in full sun to partial shade
- Vibrant foliage display all season
- Ideal for container gardening
- Includes companion plant care app access
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly praise the Sweet Potato Vine Black for its striking, deep purple to black foliage, which delivers exceptional aesthetic impact. The primary focus is on quality and visual appeal. Plants consistently arrive robust and healthy, often in a mature size ready for immediate placement. Reviewers frequently highlight the excellent packaging that protects the delicate vines during shipping. While minor shipping stress occurs occasionally, the vine demonstrates impressive resilience and quickly recovers. Its vigorous growth and ability to fill space make it a highly satisfying purchase for gardeners seeking a reliable, dark accent plant. The quality justifies the slightly premium price point for most buyers.
Know before you buy
No, this plant is highly toxic if ingested. It should be kept in a location that is completely inaccessible to curious pets and small children.
While it is often used in outdoor containers, it can be grown indoors if you have a very bright, sunny spot. It requires significant light to maintain its deep purple color and compact growth habit.
This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade. Providing at least six hours of direct sunlight will help the foliage maintain its signature dark, near-black coloration.
A tender perennial is a plant that lives for several years in warm climates but cannot survive freezing temperatures. If you live in a region with cold winters, you will need to treat it as an annual or bring it indoors before the first frost.
The Black Sweet Potato Vine is a vigorous grower. Once established, it will quickly trail over the edges of containers or spread across the soil surface, reaching a mature height of about 12 inches.
It is a low-maintenance plant, but you can trim the vines back if they become too long or unruly for your space. Regular trimming can also encourage a fuller, bushier appearance.
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$23