Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas ‘Tricolor’

Common Name: Sweet Potato Vine

Hardiness Zone: Grown as an Annual in All Climates (Perennial in USDA Zones 9–11)

Size: 10–14" Tall × 18–30" Spread

Growth Habit: Moderately Trailing, More Controlled Habit

Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Soil: Well-Drained Soil

Water Needs: Moderate

Bloom Season: Grown for Foliage

Fertilizer: Light Feeding

Features: Green, Cream, and Pink Variegated Foliage, Decorative Texture

Uses: Containers, Accent Plantings, Mixed Combinations

Patent: ❌ Not Patented

Propagation: ✔ Easy from Cuttings

More About ‘Tricolor’

‘Tricolor’ is grown for its uniquely variegated foliage, blending soft green with creamy white margins and subtle pink highlights. The color variation adds movement and interest even without flowers. Unlike more aggressive sweet potato vines, ‘Tricolor’ grows at a more restrained pace, making it easier to integrate into mixed containers without overpowering companion plants. It prefers some protection from extreme heat to preserve its variegation.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

We appreciate ‘Tricolor’ for its refinement. It’s not about size or speed — it’s about detail. In our trials, it has performed best as a feature foliage plant in containers where its color variation can be appreciated up close, especially in softer or more curated designs.

Tricolor vs. Other Sweet Potato Vines

Ipomoea ‘Tricolor’ fills a completely different niche than the other three, prioritizing foliage detail over size or speed. Its green, cream, and pink variegation creates visual movement that neither Blackie nor the chartreuse varieties can replicate. Growth is noticeably slower and more restrained, making it far easier to integrate into mixed containers without constant maintenance.

Compared to Marguerite and Compact Margie, it lacks brightness at a distance but excels up close, where its color shifts are most visible. Heat tolerance is good but not exceptional, and some protection helps preserve its variegation during extreme summer conditions. For gardeners focused on refinement, texture, and controlled design, Tricolor offers a level of sophistication the others simply don’t aim for.