Blackie' was the first ornamental sweet potato cultivar to make its' way into the nursery industry. This plant is an aggressive purple-leaf form that had been around for a number of years, but was never really introduced to landscapers or gardening consumers. Plants perform best in full sun and are heat tolerant.
Partial shade leads to less foliage color and a more open growth habit.
Pruning is required on the rapid growing cultivars. As with any plant, there are advantages and disadvantages associated with ornamental sweet potatoes. The sweet potato weevil-free parishes in Louisiana are Claiborne, Lincoln, Jackson, Union, Winn, Ouachita, Cladwell, LaSalle, Morehouse, Richland, Franklin, Catahoula, West Carroll, East Carroll, Madison, Tensas, and Concordia. These parishes are contiguous and are located in the northeastern portion of the state. Alabama and Arkansas only accept ornamental sweet potatoes grown in weevil-free areas.