PlantFiles: Ornamental Yam
Dioscorea discolor

I have this plant growing in a full, dry shade situation, in acid soil. I love the contrast of the leaves among my mostly green plants. It's very vigorous and requires very little care, but I have to keep it in check. It is trying to take over this particular bed.

This is an Indo-Malayan vine (the variety I have) and it is not variegated nor velvet/fuzzy. The leaves are bright green, shiny, and heart shaped. Everyone that sees it wants to know what it is and if I'll share it. I have never found a bloom on it and the potatoes form at the base of the leaf structure. The potatoes range in all sizes, sometimes soft ball size or larger. All sizes that I have planted will come up and grow, no matter how small. I gather the potatoes in the fall or when they sometimes fall off. They do fall very easily at the least bump. I keep them inside in a basket and in the spring they start sprouting so you know it is time to plant them. Unless you keep them in a cool place they may start sprouting before the last frost. In zone 8 where I live, they have never come back from the root for me although I have read that they can be planted almost at any time in the south. They are supposed to be hardy in zone 4 and possibly zone 3 although their tops die down.