Potato Vine
Solanum jasminoides
Attractive, shrubby climber gives an almost perpetual display of showy blue-white blossoms. Good ornamental cover for fences or walls, or grow across lattice for shade. Semi-evergreen.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | so-LAY-num jas-min-OY-deez |
| Key feature: | Deer Resistant |
| Plant type: | Vine - Requires Support |
| Garden styles: | Cottage, Mediterranean, Tropical |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 9 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Partial to full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8, 9, 12 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Fast grower, stems to 20 to 25 ft. long. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Flower attributes: | Fragrant, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Espalier, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 7090 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer. Provide support such as a trellis or arbor. Prune annually to control size. Pruning time: fall after flowering.
Design Ideas
The delicate look and assertive growth of this vine makes it a good cover for fence or arbor. Twine up the post of a shade covering or around the base of palm trees. Good container plant for porch or patio.
Companion Plants
Used as a screen on a fence, this vine makes a good backdrop for smaller shrubs such as Dwarf Pomegranate (Punica granatum 'Nana') or Dwarf Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus 'Little John') or Flower CarpetTM Appleblossom Groundcover Rose (Rosa x 'Noamel')
History
This great woody liana falls into the notorious nightshade family which it shares with potatoes, hence its common name. This species is native to South American jungles of Brazil. The species name suggests its visual similarity to jasmine vines, conferred by Joseph Paxton of England, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire.
Lore
Plants of the nightshade family are rich in chemical alkaloids and thus have been used in medicinal preparations since ancient times and are still utilized in modern pharmacopoeia.
Attractive, shrubby climber gives an almost perpetual display of showy blue-white blossoms. Good ornamental cover for fences or walls, or grow across lattice for shade. Semi-evergreen.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer. Provide support such as a trellis or arbor. Prune annually to control size. Pruning time: fall after flowering.
Design Ideas
The delicate look and assertive growth of this vine makes it a good cover for fence or arbor. Twine up the post of a shade covering or around the base of palm trees. Good container plant for porch or patio.
Companion Plants
Used as a screen on a fence, this vine makes a good backdrop for smaller shrubs such as Dwarf Pomegranate (Punica granatum 'Nana') or Dwarf Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus 'Little John') or Flower CarpetTM Appleblossom Groundcover Rose (Rosa x 'Noamel')
History
This great woody liana falls into the notorious nightshade family which it shares with potatoes, hence its common name. This species is native to South American jungles of Brazil. The species name suggests its visual similarity to jasmine vines, conferred by Joseph Paxton of England, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire.
Lore
Plants of the nightshade family are rich in chemical alkaloids and thus have been used in medicinal preparations since ancient times and are still utilized in modern pharmacopoeia.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | so-LAY-num jas-min-OY-deez |
| Key feature: | Deer Resistant |
| Plant type: | Vine - Requires Support |
| Garden styles: | Cottage, Mediterranean, Tropical |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 9 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Partial to full sun |
| Sunset climate zones: | 8, 9, 12 - 24 |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Fast grower, stems to 20 to 25 ft. long. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Flower attributes: | Fragrant, Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Attracts Hummingbirds, Deer Resistant, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Espalier, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | White |
| Blooms: | Spring |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 7090 |
