Illusion Emerald Lace Sweet Potato Vine

Illusion® Emerald Lace is the Proven Winners trade selection for the ornamental sweetpotato cultivar ‘NCORNSP-012EMLC’. Its deeply divided, light green to chartreuse leaves grow on a compact, semi-upright plant with a mounding, spreading habit; flowers are uncommon. ## Landscape Use The [Proven Winners 2024–25 protected-plant catalog](https://www.provenwinners.com/sites/provenwinners.com/files/pdf/2024-25_proven_winners_protected_plant_varieties.pdf) lists the exact code and U.S. and Canadian plant-rights numbers; the [U.S. plant patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP21744P2/en) records the denomination and trial traits. Use the fine-textured foliage in mixed containers or as a groundcover where its cut leaves contrast with broader forms. The patent identifies this selection as suitable for landscape or container growing and less vigorous than ‘Margarita’ and ‘Blackie’. NC State Extension also includes ornamental sweetpotato among groundcovers, vines, and mixed-container plants. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-batatas/). ## Growing Conditions Provide full sun or partial shade and loamy, well-drained soil high in organic matter. Sweetpotato vine is frost-sensitive and usually grown as a warm-season annual in cold climates. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-batatas/). ## Size and Flowering A typical plant in the patent’s greenhouse and field trials averaged 24.8 cm in height and 63.5 cm in spread. Treat those figures as trial observations because growing conditions affect mature size. The patent reports that flowers are rare, even under short-day conditions. ## Maintenance Allow room for spreading shoots or trim runners when they begin to crowd nearby plants. Check for deer browsing, which NC State notes can damage sweetpotato vines, and replant after frost in cold climates.