“Ornamental Vines Entwine”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
Earlier this summer, when my sister and I went plant shopping, I bought several sweet potato vines. I already grow Margarite, the chartreuse one, Sweet Caroline Green Yellow, and Ace of Spades a dark black one. On this plant buying outing, I bought three more – Sweet Caroline Red (maple-shaped leaf), Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Red (heart-shaped leaf), and Sweet Caroline Bewitched Purple (frilly leafed). Of course, when I bought these tree new vines, I had no place in mind as to where I would put them. (I know , I know, you are not supposed to buy plants without having a plan where they are supposed to go, but what can I say? Like you’ve never done this.) Finally, I decided to plant them in hanging baskets and hang them from a shepherd’s hook. At first the plants were scrawny, but now that shepherd’s hook is a focal point in the back garden.
In the center basket is Sw. Caroline Bewitched, to the right is Sw. Caroline Red, and to the left is Sw. Caroline Sweetheart Red. These three tend to be a little more compact than the earlier ornamental sweet potato vines such as Margarite and Blackie. At the base of the shepherd’s hook is a container with Sweet Caroline Bronze and Alabama Sunset coleus. I am certainly pleased with how these hanging baskets look.
It should be easy to overwinter these baskets, but come springtime, I think I will be placing them in the garden. Maybe by that time I will have figured out where to plant them.
Always Growing 
Sue said,
September 21, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Mine aren’t as healthy and lush as yours. I don’t have quite as many kinds, either. I plan on eating the potatoes after the frost comes.
Janet said,
September 21, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Never buy a plant with a plan as to where it will go in the garden???? hahahahahahahaaaaa too funny.
I like those Sweet Potato vines –though hard to tell where one ends and another begins…I do like the colors.
nancybond said,
September 22, 2009 at 8:42 am
Isn’t it nice when something saves its colour for the end of the gardening season? Your vines are beautiful.
Annie in Austin said,
September 26, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I usually grab a few chartreuse or dark burgundy sweet potato vines if they show up in early summer, Jan – but they seldom have cultivar names and I’ve never seen such a variety!
Do you try to save them over the winter?
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Grape Vines said,
September 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Those are some nice looking vines. Good work.