its been a few days.. try the NAME THAT PLANT FORUM ken

Beautiful vine! May I suggest you post on the 'Gardening in the UK' forum in the European part? Someone is bound to know. Can you tell me when the photo was taken - I often visit HCP when I visit my Mum and sister in the UK (they live very close) and I have never seen it. Whereabouts is it? Somewhere near the Grapevine? Lately we've not visited HC as it get so crowded in the summer (when I'm in the UK) we go to Wisley, Kew and Chelsea Physic.

More info needed. What tropical climate? Please tell us that you didn't hide it in your luggage to sneak it over the border, lol.

I agree with Jay: I. batatas. It appears to be one of the variegated forms (so the photo isn't *quite* as washed out as it seems, lol). In the eastern US, it rarely blooms north of zone 7, as it requires prolonged high heat. Many people in cooler climates will never see a bloom. Even the plain edible sweet potato blooms here for me if planted early enough (I usually grow the cultivar 'Beauregard'). The photo is absolutely typical of the leaf form and bloom of I. batatas. I've never heard of anyone eating the tubers of the ornamental varieties, which they produce (with a long enough growing season) just like the edible forms do, but they belong to the same species as the edible types. But since they've been chosen for other characteristics than taste/flavor, it might be iffy.