Bloomipedia
Wild potato vine (Ipomoea pandurata)
Photo: Michael J. Papay via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Wild potato vine

Ipomoea pandurata

Native in the lower 48

Wild potato vine is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–September.

29states
7of our state lists
14,718U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Quick look

Ipomoea pandurata, known as man of the earth, wild potato vine, manroot, wild sweet potato, is a species of herbaceous perennial vine native to North America. It is a twining plant of woodland verges and rough places with heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped white flowers with a pinkish throat. The large tuberous roots can be roasted and eaten, or can be used to make a poultice or infusion.

  • It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In North Carolina, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. iNaturalist
  • In Tennessee, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,930 research-grade sightings of it in North Carolina, ranking #91 among the 111 flowers on our North Carolina list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,360 research-grade sightings of it in Tennessee, ranking #82 among the 112 flowers on our Tennessee list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,322 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #63 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist

Wild potato vine gift ideas

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,088 records)
Bloom time in each of our 7 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
North CarolinaNativeJune–September1,930
TennesseeNativeJune–September1,360
GeorgiaNativeMay–September1,322
AlabamaNativeMay–September1,228
South CarolinaNativeJune–September719
ArkansasNativeJune–September576
MississippiNativeJune–September320

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S5, secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in South Carolina.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MI (S2), NE (S1), NY (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Symptoms they list: “Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations” They also note: “Roots can be eaten cooked, but raw, are a purgative.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Morning Glory” (Ipomoea spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records wild potato vine in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia; District of Columbia.

North Carolina counties with USDA records: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Cumberland, Currituck, Davidson, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Martin, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, Yancey.

Tennessee counties with USDA records: Anderson, Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Campbell, Cannon, Carter, Cheatham, Claiborne, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Decatur, Dickson, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Giles, Grainger, Hamilton, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Hickman, Houston, Knox, Loudon, Marshall, Maury, McMinn, McNairy, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Rutherford, Scott, Sevier, Shelby, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Union, Wayne, Williamson, Wilson.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Baker, Brooks, Chatham, Cherokee, Cobb, Dougherty, Elbert, Fulton, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, McIntosh, Morgan, Rabun, Richmond, Tift, Walker, Wilkes.

More North Carolina flowers

Beach morning-glory (Ipomoea imperati)

Beach morning-glory

Ipomoea imperati

Native

🌼 Blooms: April–November
Hairy cluster-vine (Jacquemontia tamnifolia)

Hairy cluster-vine

Jacquemontia tamnifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms: July–November
Crane-fly orchid (Tipularia discolor)

Crane-fly orchid

Tipularia discolor

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🌼 Blooms in NC: July–August

Sources