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    • Photo of Dioscorea sylvatica form by Martin Heigan

    Photo by Martin Heigan

    Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

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    Dioscorea sylvatica

    Also Known As

    • Elephant's Foot
    • Wild Yam

    Plant type

    vine, bulb / corm / tuber

    size

    • H: 6'-14'
    • W: 1'-15'

    planting zones

    • 10a-12

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    Dioscorea sylvatica plant details

    Dioscorea sylvatica is a broadleaf deciduous bulb / corm / tuber or vine with green foliage. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular water. Prefers to be dry in winter, dry when dormant. Does well in rich soil.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Dioscorea sylvatica

    Plant type: bulb / corm / tuber or vine
    Plant family: dioscoreaceae
    Foliage: deciduous green
    Mature size: 1 FT - 15 FT - wide, 6 FT - 14 FT - tall

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Dioscorea sylvatica

    USDA Zones: 10a - 12
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
    Watering frequency: regular
    Soil needs: rich

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Ecklon Cape Province, South Africa, related to D. paniculata and D. Elephantipes. The Bantu people specially treat the caudex for eating. Many dioscorea are poisonous and require special preparation before becoming edible. Rarely offered in cultivation.

    By: Rare Plant Research

    Gardening facts about Dioscorea sylvatica plant

    How to Grow Dioscorea sylvatica

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly shade

    • Water Needs

      • regular

    • Water Needs

      • dry in winter

    • Water Needs

      • dry when dormant

    • Soil Needs

      • rich

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • green

    • Foliage Season

      • deciduous

    Landscape groups by tags

    See other plant types of Dioscorea for your garden

    Dioscorea elephantipes

    aka Elephant's Foot, Hottentot Bread

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Vine, Bulb / Corm / Tuber

    Zones

    9a-11

    Size

    Height: 12"-36"

    Width: 12"

    • sun - bright shade
    • low
    • dry when dormant
    Photo of Dioscorea elephantipes form by plant lust
    View Plant

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    Dioscorea mexicana

    aka Dioscorea macrostachya, Elephant's Foot, Mexican Yam

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Vine, Bulb / Corm / Tuber

    Zones

    9a-11

    Size

    Height: 12'

    Width: 3'

    • sun - bright shade
    • regular
    Photo of Dioscorea mexicana by plant lust
    View Plant

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    Dioscorea villosa

    aka Dioscorea paniculata, Wild Yam

    Plant Type

    Vine, Bulb / Corm / Tuber

    Zones

    4a-9b

    Size

    Height: 6'-30'

    Width: 2'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • regular
    Photo of Dioscorea villosa flower, foliage by H. Zell
    View Plant

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    Dioscorea polystachya

    aka Dioscorea batatas, Air Potato Vine, Chinese Yam

    Plant Type

    Vine, Bulb / Corm / Tuber

    Zones

    6a-11

    Size

    Height: 10'-20'

    Width: 5'-15'

    • sun - mostly shade
    • even moisture - regular
    Photo of Dioscorea polystachya fruit by Alan Lorence
    View Plant

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    Dioscorea dodecaneura

    aka Dioscorea discolor, Ornamental Yam, Variegated Monkey Ball Vine

    Plant Type

    Perennial, Vine, Bulb / Corm / Tuber

    Zones

    9a-11

    Size

    Height: 12'

    Width: 6'

    • bright shade - dappled shade
    • regular
    Photo of Dioscorea dodecaneura foliage by Almost Eden
    View Plant

    More Options

    +5 more Dioscorea
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