SolarTower™ Black Sweet Potato Vine

SolarTower™ Black is an ornamental sweet potato vine selected for dark purple foliage and a vigorous climbing habit. Its formal cultivar denomination is ‘Balsotowac’; Ball FloraPlant lists a mature height of 4–7 feet and spread of 3–4 feet, with sun to partial-sun exposure. The breeder recommends it for gallon containers, hanging baskets, mixed containers and landscapes; the plant patent describes the same cultivar’s dark purple leaves and climbing form, distinguishing its habit and leaf shape from SolarPower Black ([Ball FloraPlant product page](https://www.ballfloraplant.com/Products/Details/?phid=060208159000573); [U.S. plant patent PP29,511](https://patents.justia.com/patent/PP29511)). ## Siting Use a trellis for vertical growth, or let stems trail from a hanging basket or mixed container. At the species level, NC State Extension describes *Ipomoea batatas* as a vigorous annual vine in Convolvulaceae and recommends full sun or partial shade in loamy, well-drained soil high in organic matter. The university notes that vines need training and that the species is frost-sensitive; these are general species-care notes, while the cultivar-specific dimensions and form above come from Ball and its patent ([NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ipomoea-batatas/)). ## Maintenance Guide new growth onto a support as needed and trim stems to keep them within the available space. Keep the planting site well drained and protect plants from frost, since this species is generally grown as a warm-season annual. NC State lists root-cutting propagation for the species.