Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an annual vegetable in the Convolvulaceae family. It grows 20–40 cm (8–16 in) tall and 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 40 cm (16 in) apart.
Plan Sweet potato in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sweet potato at a glance
| Type | Annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Convolvulaceae |
| Mature height | 20–40 cm (8–16 in) |
| Mature spread | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 40 cm (16 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 9–13 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 120 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: cooked tubers, young leaves |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇮🇳 India, 🇰🇷 South Korea, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇳🇬 Nigeria, 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Is Sweet potato toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
Tubers are edible; pet toxicity of vines and raw tubers is not well established.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Sweet potato
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Sweet potato
- How far apart should I plant Sweet potato?
- About 40 cm (16 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).
- Does Sweet potato need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sweet potato need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Sweet potato?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Sweet potato flower?
- About 9–13 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks.
- Is Sweet potato poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not known to be toxic. Tubers are edible; pet toxicity of vines and raw tubers is not well established.
- What grows well with Sweet potato?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Sweet potato. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Grown from slips; needs a long warm season.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Morning glory Ipomoea purpurea
- Water spinach (kangkong) Ipomoea aquatica
- Moonflower Ipomoea alba
- Silverbush (shrubby bindweed) Convolvulus cneorum
- Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
- Cherry tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Potato Solanum tuberosum
- Bell pepper Capsicum annuum