The Sweet Potato ( Ipomoea batatas ) is a plant that is a member of the morning glory family , grown for its sweet , edible , tuberous roots . The genus Ipomoea that contains the sweet potato also includes several garden flowers called morning glories , though that term is not usually extended to Ipomoea batatas . Some cultivars of Ipomoea batatas are grown as ornamental plants ; the name `` tuberous morning glory '' may be used in a horticultural context .