SolarPower™ Black Heart Black Sweet Potato Vine

SolarPower™ Black Heart is an ornamental sweet potato vine whose clean, true heart-shaped leaves stay deep black through summer, with deep purple new growth in spring. Its densely branched, mounded-spreading form suits mixed containers and garden beds in partial sun or sun. ## Form and placement Ball Seed lists plants at 10–12 inches tall and 24–36 inches wide, with 18–30 inches of spacing; plan for the wider published spread when placing it among other plants. The selection has medium vigor and holds its shape and foliage color through summer. At the species level, NC State describes sweetpotato vine as susceptible to frost and commonly grown as an annual in colder climates, in full sun or partial shade and loamy, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. That broad guidance applies to the species; the selection-specific dimensions, habit, and foliage color come from Ball Seed. [Ball Seed](https://info.ballseed.com/webtrackplantinfo.aspx?ENV=P&phid=060207257010622) [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-batatas/) ## Maintenance Follow the breeder's medium-water recommendation and use freely draining soil, particularly in containers. The source also identifies this selection as drought- and heat-tolerant and low-maintenance; its spring foliage starts deep purple before turning black. [Ball Seed](https://info.ballseed.com/webtrackplantinfo.aspx?ENV=P&phid=060207257010622) [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-batatas/)