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Dioscorea villosa

 
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Family: Dioscoreaceae
Genus: Dioscorea (dy-oh-SKOR-ee-uh) (Info)
Species: villosa (vil-OH-suh) (Info)

Synonym:Dioscorea hirticaulis
Synonym:Dioscorea villosa var. hirticaulis

3 vendors have this plant for sale.

2 members have or want this plant for trade.

Category:
Herbs
Perennials
Vines and Climbers

Height:
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)

Spacing:
12-15 in. (30-38 cm)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Light Shade

Danger:
Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Color:
Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Time:
Unknown - Tell us

Foliage:
Herbaceous
Silver/Gray
Velvet/Fuzzy-Textured

Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping

Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

Patent Information:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From seed; direct sow after last frost

Seed Collecting:
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored

Click thumbnail
to view:

By arsenic
Thumbnail #1 of Dioscorea villosa by arsenic

By julie88
Thumbnail #2 of Dioscorea villosa by julie88

By Zaragoza
Thumbnail #3 of Dioscorea villosa by Zaragoza

Profile:

2 positives
No neutrals
No negatives

Gardeners' Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Positive julie88 On Jan 26, 2005, julie88 from Muscoda, WI (Zone 4b) wrote:

This plant is also native to most of Wisconsin (I'm in z4b) according to the UW Stevens Point site. I found it growing in the margins of the Wisconsin River marsh near my home. The seed pods make an excellent addition to dried autumn arrangements.

Positive Michaelp On Oct 7, 2002, Michaelp from Orange Springs, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

Low (and slow) germination. Nice-looking plant; good growth,leaves are longer than wide,and have very conspicuous veins,leaves are alternate[the lower ones in whorls of 3 to 8] -- no bug damage or pests seen. It grew one long vine with no side shoots for the first 6 feet,than it began to fill out. Slender vine stems climb well with support.

Highly sought after for DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone, a natural, intermediate steroid hormone produced in the human body by the adrenal glands), and used for anti-aging herbal formulas.

Leaves may contain some kind of toxn, as no bugs eat them.

Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

Cullman, Alabama
Johnson City, Tennessee
Trinity, Texas
Muscoda, Wisconsin



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