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Annual Biennial

Ipomoea batatas Solar Power Black ('Balsolablack')

Twining climber usually grown as an annual foliage plant to 30cm tall, with a compact, mounded and trailing habit, densely branched with tapering, 5-lobed, dark-purple leaves

Synonyms
Ipomoea batatas 'Balsolablack'
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple
Summer Purple
Autumn Purple
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Convolvulaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Trailing, Bushy
Genus

Ipomoea can be annuals or perennials, often twining, or evergreen shrubs, with simple, lobed or dissected leaves and tubular or funnel-shaped flowers which may be solitary or borne in racemes or panicles

Name status

Trade

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How to grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in the summer months in well-drained soil in full sun with shelter; overwinter or grow in containers under glass in loam-based potting compost John Innes No.2 in full light with shade from hot sun, watering freely in growth and use a general fertiliser monthly; water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or summer, or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • hanging basket
  • Patio and container plants
  • Bedding
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pinch out tips to keep the plant bushy and compact

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite if grown in a conservatory or greenhouse

Diseases

May be susceptible to a virus and powdery mildews

Get involved

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