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GENERAL
Origin
:
tropical
Vigour
:
fast growing
Humidity
:
semi-humid, very
humid, extremely
humid
Propagation :
layer, cuttings,
division
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
medium
Salinity/ppm :
low (1000 ppm)
Hardiness
:
0°C
SHAPE
Type
:
perennial
Height
:
1.5 m
Spread
:
3 m-5 m
Foliage
:
deciduous
FLOWER
Colour
:
deep pink, lilac,
purple, white
Size
:
8 cm - 10 cm
Period
:
April - September
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
capsule
Fruit size
:
0.8 cm
Toxicity
:
edible when
processed, root
This vine produces edible tubers that can be oblong, round or even forked, and up to 25 cm long.
Their skin may be white, yellow, red, brown or purple. Varieties with white flesh are firmer, while
those with shades of orange are more nutritious, containing the vitamins A and C. Originally
grown by Inca and Maya tribes in Central America, it was Columbus who began to distribute
the plant. Nowadays, it is a staple food found in many tropical countries. It is eaten boiled, baked,
fried, grilled or raw as a salad. Sweet Potatoes are also grown as pretty ornamentals for their
attractive foliage, which is deeply lobed or heart-shaped. Cultivars show different colours such
as purple, and are sometimes variegated. Flowers appear in shades of purple, pink or white from
spring until autumn, but they are rather inconspicuous. Being of tropical descent, the plant revels
in heat and full sun if the soil is fertile, well drained and not too dry. Although it may be grown
from seed, it is usually propagated by softwood cuttings or tuber sections. Maintenance require-
ments are low, limited to training the shoots along the support. Pruning is possible at any time,
and infestations by pests or diseases are rare. Sweet Potatoes become dormant during prolonged
periods of cold, but remain evergreen in mild climates without frost. In Arriyadh, this plant is
grown for its ornamental foliage, and large areas are often seen as a groundcover. It may also be
planted in containers, hanging baskets or to hang over walls.
163
Ipomoea batatas,
Convolvulaceae
Sweet Potato