Ipomoea pandurata
wild potato vine
Overview
Ipomoea pandurata, wild potato vine, is a herbaceous perennial vine in the morning-glory family, with twining or trailing stems reaching 10-30 feet (3-9 m) in a season. It grows from a large, fleshy taproot that can weigh several pounds and reach 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) deep, regrowing each spring. Heart-shaped leaves 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long line the stems, and from early summer the plant bears funnel-shaped white flowers 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) wide with a deep reddish-purple center. Flowers open in the morning and close by afternoon heat, followed by dry seed capsules. Native to fields, fencerows, and woodland edges across the eastern and central United States, it climbs over fences, shrubs, and other plants. The deep root makes established plants drought-tolerant but also hard to remove, and the vine can overrun small plantings. The large root contains purgative resin glycosides. I. pandurata is grown on trellises and fences and used in native and pollinator plantings, where its vigorous growth has room to spread.
Native Range
Ipomoea pandurata is native to the eastern and central United States, from Ontario and the Great Lakes south to Florida and Texas. It grows in open woods, fields, roadsides, and fencerows, often on dry or sandy soils. It is most common in the Southeast and lower Midwest.Suggested Uses
Wild potato vine is grown on fences, trellises, and arbors and in native and pollinator plantings. Its flowers draw bees, including specialist morning-glory bees, and other insects. The dense vine gives cover for small wildlife along field edges.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 30'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White with reddish-purple centerFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow wild potato vine in full sun to part shade on well-drained sandy or loamy soil. Once the deep root is established, the plant tolerates drought and poor soil and needs little care. It twines on any nearby support, so a trellis or fence keeps the stems off other plants. The vine dies back to the root each winter and resprouts vigorously in spring. It self-sows and spreads from the root, and the heavy taproot makes mature plants hard to dig out. It has few pests, though tortoise beetles and leaf miners may chew the foliage.Pruning
Cut the dead vines to the ground in late fall or winter after frost. Stems can be trimmed through the season to keep the vine within bounds. Removing seed capsules before they ripen limits self-sowing.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallwinter