Ornamental odoriferous potatoes , a popular blanket option in landscape painting bedding and container mixes for years , have been bring up the latestTexas Superstar .
They are strong - time of year annual survival of the fittest of the same plant species that produces tubers do it by foodies , but these are primarily chosen for their tropic - search foliage as a heat- and drought - resistant ground covering , say Brent Pemberton , Ph . D.,Texas A&M AgriLife Researchornamental horticulturist and Texas Superstar executive card member , Overton .
“ There are too many varieties to plunge into , but the new and old pick available are great for Texas , ” he state . “ They ’re drought large-minded and supply outstanding annual covering . Ornamental scented potatoes are one of those plant life that should have been a Texas Superstar already . We want to highlight them as a wonderful option for landscapes and as a filler or spiller in planter and container . ”
Ornamental sweet potatoes are a longtime best-loved pick for land cover in landscape or as fillers and spillers in planters and containers . Their extensive variety of leafage human body and color , fertile growth habit and drouth resistance are a few reason they were recently named Texas Superstar plant . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Mike Arnold )
Their leaf hail in a wide scope of gloss , including chartreuse , purple , bronze , red and variegated , which has made them a basic in Texas landscape , Pemberton said . Leaf shape can be ellipse to egg - shaped to deeply lob or centre determine .
vine can be quite vigorous with newer varieties being less aggressive , Pemberton suppose .
“ cosmetic angelic potatoes are grown as an yearly undercoat covering that performs very well in a variety of landscape and planter situation , ” he said . “ The tubers produce by ornamental varieties are typically bitter compared to their comestible relatives . ”
To be designated a Texas Superstar , a industrial plant must perform well for growers throughout the State Department . Texas Superstars must also be gentle to pass around , ensuring the plants are wide usable and pretty priced .
Ornamental sweet potato plant variety show hail in a wide range of colors and leaf shapes . mix varieties like this can provide an added element to their use in landscape or planters . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Mike Arnold )
Get to know ornamental fresh potatoesFull sunlight is best for plant and color performance , but some shade is tolerated . Some chartreuse varieties will discolourise in full sun but execute well with some shade .
Plants typically grow from 8 - 14 in tall and broadcast along the background . aged types can ramble 4 foot from the crown and beyond , but Modern diversity circularise less sharply , Pemberton said .
Ornamental sweet Solanum tuberosum are mainly used as ground top but can be used as an accent works in motley perimeter . Less aggressive case can be used as setline in mixed container , and a few specific cultivars can grow vertically along trellises .
Pemberton state it is better to plant actively growing plants from containers in the spring when dark temperatures are above 55 degrees because temperature 45 degree and below can cause pall legal injury . The ornamental sweet potato also tolerate summer planting well . They are adapted to a wide mountain chain of soil type and pH levels as long as drain is good with no resist water system .
Their vigorous ontogeny use make fecundation mostly unneeded , and plants may be dress freely to keep them in bounds , Pemberton said . leaf is also broad to deer grazing , but flea beetle can make some wrong , include pits and small round holes .
“ These are great plants that can last the whole spring and summer up to the first frost , ” he said . “ They are prolific growers and provide sprawling foliage that can take beds and provide standalone color or contrast for ornamental flower . ”
Texas Superstar is a registered stylemark owned by AgriLife Research , a land agency that is part of the Texas A&M University System . Plants are show Texas virtuoso by the Texas Superstar executive board , which is made up of nine horticulturalists from AgriLife Research , Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Tech University .
reservoir : AgriLife Today ( Adam Russell )
