Kolibri Purple Sweet Potato
Ipomoea batatas 'Kolibri'
A stunning ornamental sweet potato that doubles as an edible variety, featuring deep purple foliage that creates dramatic contrast in gardens. The compact tubers have purple skin and cream flesh with a mildly sweet flavor. This dual-purpose variety is perfect for gardeners who want both beautiful landscaping and a unique harvest.
Harvest
90-120d
Days to harvest
Sun
White-Tailed Deer
Zones
9–11
USDA hardiness
Height
6-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Kolibri Purple Sweet Potato in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 root-vegetable →Zone Map
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Kolibri Purple Sweet Potato · Zones 9–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | July – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | June – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | May – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | May – December |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: White-Tailed Deer. Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet. Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Root Cutting.
Harvesting
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Edibility: Edible leaves, tuberous roots, and stems. Sweet potatoes are a popular vegetable. Ornamental cultivars are not as tasty.
Storage & Preservation
After curing, store Kolibri Purple Sweet Potatoes in a cool (55-60°F), dark location with good ventilation. A basement or root cellar is ideal – avoid refrigeration, which converts starches to sugars and creates an unpleasantly sweet flavor. Properly cured and stored tubers last 6-8 months.
For preservation, these sweet potatoes excel when sliced and dehydrated into chips, maintaining their purple color beautifully. They also freeze well when blanched and cubed, though the texture becomes softer after thawing – perfect for mashing or soups. Pressure canning works for long-term storage, but the cream flesh may darken slightly. The colorful purple skins make them particularly striking when pickled or fermented, adding visual appeal to preserved vegetable medleys.
History & Origin
Origin: Mexico
Advantages
- +Attracts: Pollinators, Specialized Bees
- +Fast-growing
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Nasturtiums
Repels sweet potato weevils, Colorado potato beetles, and aphids while acting as trap crop
Marigolds
Deters nematodes and sweet potato weevils with their strong scent and root secretions
Bush Beans
Fixes nitrogen in soil to benefit sweet potato growth without competing for space
Oregano
Repels many harmful insects and doesn't compete with sweet potato's spreading growth habit
Thyme
Natural pest deterrent that grows low and won't interfere with sweet potato vines
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects while requiring minimal ground space
Spinach
Cool-season crop that can be harvested before sweet potatoes spread, maximizing garden space
Lettuce
Quick-growing crop that can utilize space before sweet potato vines spread extensively
Keep Apart
Sunflowers
Allelopathic compounds inhibit sweet potato growth and tall plants create excessive shade
Tomatoes
Both are heavy feeders competing for nutrients, and share similar pest problems
Walnut Trees
Produce juglone which is toxic to sweet potatoes and inhibits root development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #169303)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to most sweet potato diseases, naturally pest resistant
Common Pests
Sweet potato weevil, flea beetles, wireworms
Diseases
Black rot, fusarium wilt, root rot in poorly drained soils