Purple Raven Sweet Potato PLANT (Ipomoea batatas ‘Sweet Caroline Raven’) – Untreated & Heirloom

Unleash a Cascade of Color and Flavor in Your Garden!

Meet the stunning ‘Purple Raven’ sweet potato, a versatile and vigorous plant prized for its breathtaking, deep purple foliage and delicious edible leaves. This ornamental edible creates a lush, fast-growing ground cover that suppresses weeds while providing a continuous harvest of nutritious greens.

A dual-purpose champion, ‘Purple Raven’ is a visual masterpiece in garden beds, containers, or sprawling landscapes. Its rich, purple-black leaves retain their vibrant color all season long, offering exceptional contrast. When cooked, these leaves become a tasty, nutrient-packed green, similar to spinach, perfect for stir-fries, sautés, and soups.

A Note on Tubers: This cultivar is primarily grown for its stunning foliage and edible leaves. While it may produce tubers, they are typically not as reliable, plentiful, or flavorful as those from varieties bred specifically for culinary use. Enjoy its main ornamental and leafy greens virtues!

Do you need more space to grow food? Check our fantastic large grow bags here.

The Perfect Ornamental Edible Ground Cover:

• Rapid, Dense Growth: Quickly fills in areas with a beautiful mat of colorful foliage.

• Drought Tolerant & Low Maintenance: Once established, it’s remarkably resilient.

• Heat Lover: Thrives in warm summer conditions.

• Edible Bonus: Harvest young leaves and stems regularly (always cooked) for a continuous supply of gourmet greens.

• Nutrient-Rich Greens: The leaves are a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, contributing to a healthy diet.

Product Details:

• Price is for one (1) young ‘Purple Raven’ sweet potato plant (slip) supplied in a small nursery pot.

• Please note: The product image is an example. The plant you receive will be at a similar stage of growth.

• Naturally grown from a mother plant in our permaculture food forest in Pacific Haven, QLD.

• Dispatch within Australia only. Unfortunately, we cannot send to Norfolk Island, TAS, SA, or WA.

• Local pick-up is available by appointment.

• A Small Nursery Note: We are a small-scale operation. While we usually have well-established plants ready, high demand may result in a short waiting period.

Planting & Growing Tips

• Initial Care: Upon arrival, give your plant a good drink and place it in a partially shaded, sheltered spot. Allow it to recover from its journey for a few days before transplanting.

• Transplanting: Plant into the garden or a large container when roots begin to emerge from the drainage holes. Water thoroughly immediately after planting.

• Position: Prefers a sunny spot with well-drained soil for the most intense leaf color and vigorous growth. It will tolerate partial shade.

• Spacing for Ground Cover: Space plants approximately 45-60cm apart to allow them to spread and form a continuous cover.

• Feeding: For lush growth, feed occasionally with a balanced liquid fertiliser or compost tea during the active growing season.

• Harvesting Leaves: Regularly pinch or snip off the tips of vines to encourage bushier growth. Use the young, tender leaves and stems, ensuring they are cooked before consumption.

Additional Notes

• Sun Acclimatisation: Our plants are grown in partial shade. Gradually introduce them to full sun over a week before planting in their permanent position.

• Important: The leaves must be cooked (e.g., steamed, sautéed, added to soups) to be edible and palatable.

• Disclaimer: As with any new food, we recommend you research before consumption. Please also see the full disclaimer in the footer of this page. Individual plant growth will vary based on climate and conditions.