Sweet Potato ‘Purple Raven’

Purple Raven' is a hardy, attractive, colourful plant with vibrant, deep purple, lobed leaves, it is very useful as a groundcover. It grows 20-30 cm high with dense coverage over the ground. It is not an aggressive runner like the cropping sweet potatoes generally are. It is not generally grown for the tubers, the tubers in the photo are about 10-12months of growth. Generally the tubers will only be the thickness of a finger if harvested at the same time as a commercial variety like Beauregard. Its main usefulness is as a groundcover and for its edible leaves and flowers. It can be grown in containers and hanging baskets and will tolerate partial shade. The leaves are a source of purple pigments, called anthocyanins.