Cassava

Manihot esculenta

Shrub3.5×4.5 mzone 9–13partial shade🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Cassava 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: Euphorbiaceae
Habit: Shrub
Height: 3.5 m
Spread: 4.5 m
Growth: fast
Lifespan: 3 years
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 9–13
Shade tolerance: partial shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 4.5 – 6.5

Uses

Edible9 of 10

Medicinal2 of 10

Other uses3 of 10

⚠️ Hazards

Toxicity: toxic

Raw roots and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides (linamarin) that release hydrogen cyanide when the tissue is crushed. Peeling, soaking and thorough cooking are mandatory — insufficiently processed cassava causes acute poisoning and the paralytic disease konzo.

This is no substitute for expert identification. When in doubt, do not eat it.

Frequently asked questions

Cassava: how big does it get?

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 3.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 4.5 m. Growth is fast.

Cassava: what site does it need?

Cassava tolerates partial shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 4.5 and 6.5.

Cassava: is it hardy?

Cassava is listed as hardy in zone 9–13 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Cassava: will it grow in Central Europe?

Cassava: is it poisonous?

Cassava is classified as toxic. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Cassava: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 9/10, Medicinal 2/10, Other uses 3/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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