On Gardening: Sweet Caroline Medusa Black will make its debut in 2026

Norman Winter, Tribune News Service on Oct 2, 2025

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Four years ago, an ornamental sweet potato shook up the green industry. It was named after Medusa, a figure from Greek mythology. If you remember from junior high, this lady had snakes for hair.

My take on this is that whenever the green industry names a new plant after Medusa, it turns out to be special. Now four years and 29 awards later, Sweet Caroline Medusa Green is one of the finest in the market. Its tight habit makes it the perfect choice for baskets, boxes and containers of all sorts and it drapes over a wall with perfection.

That Medusa name is in reference to the leaves that are long, finger-like lobes. The name Medusa Green also gave me hope of another color and indeed it has happened. Sweet Caroline Medusa Black is making its debut in 2026 and like Medusa Green it has already become an award-winner. One thing The Garden Guy really likes is the showy contrast of green leaves against the mature black foliage.

Medusa Black will reach 5 to 12 inches in height with a spread of 30 inches, which is like Medusa Green. The Medusa Green and Black are like no other ornamental sweet potatoes in the market. Fertile well-drained soil with plenty of sun will have you doing the happy dance. They will do well in part sun, but that glorious compact habit we treasure is best in full sun.

These are the ones you want for hanging baskets, mixed containers, window boxes and draping walls. Recommended spacing is 12 to 18 inches, but along my rock wall I am usually going 8 feet to allow for combinations.

Along the wall I have used Sweet Caroline Medusa Green with Diamond Snow euphorbia, Supertunias and Rockin Salvias behind. I have also added Heart to Heart caladiums. It seems that every color partners with green.

James and the Eden Estate Management team used two Sweet Caroline Medusa Black sweet potatoes on the ends of the window box belonging to Kim and Joey Mixon in Phenix City, Alabama. A window box can give you the opportunity to have partners in the box and then in a bed in front, if you have one.

They used Red Sisters Hawaiian Ti and Heart to Heart caladiums in front, and Supertunia Mini Vista petunias and Angelface White summer snapdragons as partners in the box. The Hawaiian Ti is magical and much underused. In zones 8 and 9 it usually returns from winter.

Sweet Caroline Medusa, both Black and Green, will steal your heart and give you a new outlook and enjoyment on growing ornamental sweet potatoes. Here is hoping you will try them in 2026.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)