Sweet Potato Vine

Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is currently listed as potentially toxic to cats in our database, but that classification carries low confidence (0.4) and has been flagged as a likely labeler error pending curator verification as of May 2026. Until the review is complete, treat the plant's safety status as uncertain and keep cats away from it.

Specific symptom data for cats and sweet potato vine is under review — the original classification has been flagged as a suspected labeling error and the symptom record has not yet been verified. If your cat has eaten sweet potato vine, watch for general signs of GI upset such as vomiting or lethargy, which can follow ingestion of many ornamental plants regardless of known toxicity.

Remove your cat from the plant and note roughly how much was eaten. Because this plant's toxicity classification is currently unverified and under curator review, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you observe any vomiting, drooling, lethargy, or other unusual behavior — they can advise based on your cat's size and the amount ingested.

Yes — ornamental sweet potato vine is Ipomoea batatas, the same species as the edible sweet potato, selectively bred for colorful foliage rather than its tuber. Despite the culinary familiarity of the species, our toxicity classification for cats is currently flagged for review due to a suspected data error, so the safe assumption is to prevent cats from grazing on the foliage until the classification is confirmed.

Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) is currently classified as potentially toxic to dogs, but that classification carries low confidence (0.4) and has been flagged as a likely labeler error that is under active curator review as of May 2026. Until the review is resolved, the safest approach is to prevent your dog from eating the foliage.

Specific symptom data for sweet potato vine ingestion in dogs is not currently documented — the underlying toxicity classification is under review and may reflect a mislabeling rather than a genuine hazard. If your dog has eaten the plant, watch for vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy and contact your veterinarian if any signs appear.

Remove your dog from the plant, note roughly how much was eaten, and monitor for GI upset such as vomiting or lethargy. Because the toxicity status is unresolved and not fully established, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or your vet for guidance, particularly if a large amount was consumed.

Yes — ornamental sweet potato vine and the edible sweet potato are the same species (Ipomoea batatas), bred for decorative trailing foliage rather than root production. This botanical overlap is one reason the dog-toxicity classification is currently under curator review; the final safety determination is pending verification.