Sweet Caroline Medusa™ Black Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas) | Proven Winners® New Variety 2026

Looking for bold, dramatic foliage with a twist? Meet Sweet Caroline Medusa™ Black—the garden’s answer to gothic glam. With deeply lobed, palm-shaped leaves so dark they’re nearly midnight, this sweet potato vine brings the drama in the most delightful way.

Unlike your typical trailing vines, Medusa™ Black keeps things tidy with a neat, mounded habit that’s more Boston fern than backyard sprawl. It forms a dense, billowy cloud of overlapping leaves that adds instant texture and intrigue to containers, hanging baskets, and landscapes—without demanding a regular trim. And don’t be fooled by its fancy looks—this plant is tough. Heat? Bring it on. Humidity? No sweat. Medusa™ Black thrives with easygoing energy and undeniable flair.

• 6-12 inches tall and 18-30 inches wide at maturity
• Annual except in zone 11, be sure to check your USDA zone to ensure success
• Plant in part to full sun (4+ Hours)
• Space plants 12-18 inches apart for best results
• Maintains purple-black foliage spring to frost
• Great for containers, groundcover, landscapes, mass plantings
• Fall interest, heat tolerant, deadheading not necessary