About
Dioscorea elephantipes, the elephant's foot, is a remarkable, deciduous climbing perennial growing from a substantial, partly exposed, deeply ridged, corky, woody tuber � one of the most extraordinary and architectural of all succulent stems. Slender, twining stems bear bright, heart-shaped, blue-green leaves each season, and elongated clusters of tiny, yellow flowers appear in summer. A fascinating collector's plant for a frost-free garden or heated greenhouse.
About the genus
Dioscorea, the yams, are evergreen or deciduous twining perennials with tuberous roots, heart-shaped to palmate leaves and small, bell-shaped greenish or yellow flowers in leaf-axil racemes. Several species are important food crops in tropical regions worldwide; others are grown as ornamental climbers.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toSouth Africa
ToxicityTOXIC if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling 5914,dioscorea-hastifolia,Dioscorea hastifolia,adjigo yam,Dioscorea hastifolia
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass grow in gritty, very well-draining potting compost mulched with grit in full light. Water moderately when in growth and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every two or three weeks; keep completely dry in winter. Suitable for a desert garden
PruningPruning group 11 in spring
PropagationPropagate by seed at 19 to 24°C in spring or take softwood cuttings as young shoots arise from the tuber in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids and froghoppers
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free