Air potato is an herbaceous perennial twining vine capable of growing up to 98 ft (30 m) long from subterranean potato-like tubers. Vines are smooth, rounded, and twine counterclockwise. Leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, up to 8 in (20 cm) long, and attached to vines via long petioles. The deep leaf veins all arise from the point of petiole attachment. Flowers are rarely observed in the USA but are small, white to light pink, and occur on long hanging spikes arising from leaf axils. Fruits have three wings but are also rarely (if ever) observed in the USA. Bulbils are produced aerially at leaf axils. These vary but are typically ½–5 in (1¼–13 cm) across and dark brown and rough, or tan and more smooth.