Dioscorea hemicrypta

elephant’s foot
Fascinating vine grows above a corky ‘elephant foot’ caudex. Vine goes dormant in summer. Ideal in pots. Good drainage a must.
height 4–14ft
width 1–3ft
tolerates Drought, Heat, Pots
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 D. elephantiases is from winter growing zones of South Africa and will leaf out and grow during winter months, when in growth this plant shouldn’t be kept bone dry, but watered when the top couple inches are dry. Expect the vine to die off during the summer, when water should be dialed back. During summer months the plant can be watered once it is completely dry.
hardy
to		 25F
exposure Part Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Requires Perfect Drainage, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin South Africa
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 13, 16–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

The vining foliage likes something to grow on, so place it near another plant for structure, give it a little arbor or arch of bamboo, or just let it cascade out of the pot.
Prune off the vine in summer once it has dried completely, or not.
If grown from seed the caudex will grow much faster if left submerged under the soil, but the characteristic deep corking that makes these plants sought after only developed after they are lifted above the soil.

Special Interest

Another common name for this plant is Hottentot bread, referring to the edible nature of the caudex, which is used as a staple in South Africa by native populations. Being a dioscorea it is basically a sweet potato!

Dioscorea are high in steroids and at one time trialed as a commercial crop for this use.