Wild Potato Vine is a perennial, deciduous, tenacious flowering vine similar to Morning glory and Sweet potato vine. The vine is native to North America and, at maturity, can reach a length of 30 feet. It is showy with large heart-shaped leaves, purple stems, and white flowers with pink to purple centers. It has a long bloom time from spring to fall and the large flowers attract hummingbirds. It typically sprawls along the ground in open areas or climbs vegetation. Wild Potato Vine has large, funnel-shaped, white flowers with reddish purple eyes. The genus name comes from the Greek words ips meaning "worm" and homoios meaning "resembling", referring to the sprawling underground roots of plants in this genus or to the worm-like twining plant habit. The species name means fiddle-like in reference to the leaf shape. Wild Potato Vine grows in full sun to part shade in average, well-drained soil. It prefers moist conditions but can tolerate drought conditions after it has become established. Its large, starchy, tuberous roots are difficult to eradicate, so it can become weedy in the garden. Remove dead flower heads to prevent self-seeding. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No major pest or disease problems, but the plant is known to be a host for the sweet potato weevil. The plant can reseed readily in warmer climates and may become problematic if the seedlings are left unchecked. More information on Ipomoea .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Variable olive green leaves are thin and occasionally fiddle-shaped, with each leaf extending to 3 to 6 inches long with a pointed tip.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Funnel; Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
White with centers of lavender, pink or red. Blooms from May to September.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
A smooth, oval-shaped capsule (which is 2 celled) contains hairy seeds. Displays from July to October. Fruit opens at maturity to disburse its hairy seeds to the wind.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Stems can have hair or be smooth. Climbing vine has tendrils usually twining, sometimes prostrate or floating. Purplish stems rise from a vertical, starchy root system that matures over time to as much as 4 feet long with a weigh of 25 to 30 pounds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South East Canada to Central and Eastern United States.
Wildlife value
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Roots can be eaten cooked, but raw, are a purgative.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the roots for poultices, infusions and teas for treatment of a variety of medical problems.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Rock Wall; Slope/Bank; Vertical Spaces