Potato vine

Caring for Potato vine

• The Potato Vine likes nutrient-rich, damp soil.
• The plant produces most flowers in a sunny spot, but it can also tolerate partial shade. The best position is a wall or fence facing south or west.
• Water generously – the Potato Vine likes a drink.
• If you give it plant food twice a month in the summer months, the plant will flower particularly lavishly. 
• In the autumn prune back the Potato Vine vigorously and during winter, keep as a container plant.

The Potato Vine (Solanum jasminoides) is a delightful late bloomer. In the early summer months it’s a rapid green grower, that climbs greedily and wraps itself around anything it can get hold of. Just as the rest of the garden plants are past their peak, this eye-catcher produces fabulous white star-shaped flowers with yellow stamens so that your garden can enjoy a fantastic reboot. The plant climbs 4-6m and can cover a complete pergola with a bit of guidance. The white, jasmine-like flowers are transformed into attractive violet berries late in the year, and the foliage takes on a red tone.  

Large mixed family 

The potato vine is a member of the nightshade family. This is a large, very diverse family which includes both poisonous plants as well as food plants such as chilli peppers, aubergines, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. Just remember: the potato vine’s berries are not edible.  

Enthusiastic grower 

The potato vine originates from southern Brazil and Paraguay. In southern European countries the thin, twisting branches often cover walls and low buildings, since the plant is hardy there. In our climate, the plant also grows quickly and flowers for a notably long time, usually until the frost arrives. As the growing season progresses, a mountain of leaves and flowers spread across the pergola or the trellis against which the plant grows enthusiastically. If you don’t have a lot of room, opt for a standard Potato Vine.