I had a lady ask me about a potato vine that has dark green heart shaped leaves and grows small potatoes. Does anyone know what plant this is? She says it is not the sweet potato vine. Thanks

Gosh, I had to edit this to add Welcome To ATP! I thought I might know the answer, so I just answered. But Welcome!

I think she might be referring to this plant:


I grew this for a time when I lived in Austin, but it was in a confined space and couldn't escape from where I had it growing. It's considered invasive in places. I loved it and would grow it again if I came across it. It's the sort of plant you need to know about before you grow it. Depending on where you live you might need to be take precautions to ensure you were in complete control so it didn't invade somewhere else successfully.

Thanks. Where can I buy it?

I don't know. Maybe someone else that does know will see it here that does know.

Welcome to All Things Plants, Daylilylady15 !

If you click on the photo that Donald (Needrain) posted, it and then click on the plant name at the top, it will take you to the entry on the ATP plant database; up at the top, click on "3 members have this plant" and you will see 2 members listed that are offering the bulbs/plants for trade/sale; you can contact them via "Treemail" and possibly obtain some that way. You also might want to post a message in the "Classifieds and Group Buys" forum, something to the effect of "in search of Air Potato."

Hope this is helpful !

I get "potatoes" from my vines each year. I pick them up -when I can so they don't sprout where I don't want them. Where are you? If I can find them you can have them for the cost of postage. They are round just like red potatoes. Heck, if I can't find them, I will dig some up for you. I have a few rogue vines here and there. They are beautiful but need training. Oftentimes, they wind around nearby plants when they shouldn't. They are considered invasive in some areas.

Thanks

It's not a good idea to post your email address publicly...not everyone here is a member. You may want to edit that out of your post and use the Tree-mail system provided by ATP.

Oops, I was so intent on protecting your security I totally forgot to welcome you.
Welcome to ATP.

Welcome to ATP, Daylilylady!

Air potato is a very pretty vine, but is a terrible weedy pest here in Florida. So, if you live somewhere warm, Beware!! It will seed itself widely and you'll never be rid of it.

Also, be sure to tell the lady the 'potatoes' are not edible, just in case she was thinking it was an edible plant. I get potatoes that are quite large sometimes - softball size is not unusual.

There is a native vine that is quite similar but not quite as beautiful:

http://www.delawarewildflowers...

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)