Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' (Ornamental sweet potato 'Blackie')

Botanical name

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie'

Other names

Ornamental sweet potato 'Blackie', Sweet potato vine 'Blackie', Ornamental sweet potato 'Blacky'

Genus

Ipomoea Ipomoea

Variety or Cultivar

'Blackie' _ 'Blackie' is a fast-growing, tender, trailing, tuberous perennial, often grown as an annual, with heart-shaped, deeply lobed, maroon to dark purple leaves. Funnel-shaped, pale lilac flowers with dark purple centres are rarely produced.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Trailing

Toxicity

Seeds are highly toxic if ingested.

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Colour

Flower

Lilac in Summer

Foliage

Dark-purple in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Glasshouse red spider mite , Glasshouse whitefly , Sweet potato weevil

General care

Pruning

Pruning group 11.

Propagation methods

Semi-ripe cuttings, Softwood cuttings

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' (Ornamental sweet potato 'Blackie') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.45m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, City, Conservatory, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Foliage only, Greenhouse, Hanging baskets

Cultivation

Grow in any moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny position. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water freely & feed monthly; sparingly in winter.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' (Ornamental sweet potato 'Blackie')

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' (Ornamental sweet potato 'Blackie')

Common pest name

Asain cotton leafworm; Cluster caterpillar; Fall armyworm; Rice cutworm; Taro caterpiller; Tobacco budworm; Tobacco caterpillar; Tobacco cutworm; Tobacco leaf caterpillar

Scientific pest name

Spodoptera litura

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Ipomoea batatas 'Blackie' (Ornamental sweet potato 'Blackie')

Common pest name

Black scale; Coffee scale; black; Nigra scale

Scientific pest name

Parasaissetia nigra

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Present (Limited)

Likelihood to spread in UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Present at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew for in excess of 100 years. Candidate for deregulation.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/