White yam

Dioscorea rotundata

perennial15×3.5 mzone 9–10full sun

Will it grow where I live?

White yam is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. The summer heat it needs to ripen is out of reach outdoors in Central Europe – greenhouse or conservatory.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Dioscoreaceae
Habit: perennial
Height: 15 m
Spread: 3.5 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 10 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 9–10
Shade tolerance: full sun
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 5.5 – 7

Uses

Medicinal3 of 10

Frequently asked questions

White yam: how big does it get?

White yam (Dioscorea rotundata) grows as a perennial and reaches roughly 15 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is medium.

White yam: what site does it need?

White yam tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam, Clay. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.

White yam: is it hardy?

White yam is listed as hardy in zone 9–10 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

White yam: will it grow in Central Europe?

White yam: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for White yam. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

White yam: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Medicinal 3/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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