Yam.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Tuberous perennial vine

Lumière

Full sun to partial shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière vive indirecte

Arrosage

Tous les 2 à 4 jours

Taille adulte

3 to 10 meters

Croissance

Rapide

Rusticité

USDA 9 à 12

Floraison

Mid to late summer

Entretien

Provide a sturdy trellis for the vines to climb as they grow rapidly during the season. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to prevent tuber rot. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate poor drainage or nutrient issues.

Arrosage

Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.

Engrais

Apply a balanced fertilizer monthly during the active growing phase.

Taille

Trim back dead or damaged vines to encourage healthy growth.

Rempotage

Repot or replant tubers annually at the start of the new growing season.

Sol

Well draining, fertile, loamy soil

pH du sol

5.5 to 6.5

Température

15 à 35°C

Humidité

60 à 90%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Faible

Durée de vie

Perennial, typically grown as an annual crop

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

Raw tubers contain substances that can cause irritation and are considered toxic if not properly prepared.

Enfants

Keep tubers out of reach of children, as raw ingestion can cause severe mouth and throat irritation.

Allergènes de contact

Handling raw tubers can cause skin irritation due to the presence of calcium oxalate raphides.

Allergènes aéroportés

There are no significant reports of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.

Comestibilité

The tubers must be cooked thoroughly before consumption to neutralize calcium oxalate crystals and other compounds.

Comment l'identifier

• Heart shaped, opposite leaves
• Square, winged stems
• Large, underground starchy tubers
• Small, inconspicuous flowers
• Vining growth habit

Hauteur

3 à 10m

Envergure

0,5 à 2m

Feuilles

green, deciduous

Fleurs

white, yellow, 0,5 à 1cm

Fruits

brown, Late autumn to winter

Problèmes courants

• Yam mosaic virus — Causes leaf mottling and stunted growth.
• Scale insects — Sucking insects that weaken the vine.

La cultiver

Multiplication

tuber division, bulbils

Quand planter

Spring

Hivernage

In cooler climates, dig up the tubers after the first frost and store them in a cool, dry, dark place until spring.

En pot

It can be grown in large containers of at least 20 liters, provided you have a tall trellis for the vines.

Use tall, sturdy plants as living trellises to save space and provide support for the vigorous vines.

Bonnes associations

• Maïs — Provides a natural trellis for the yam vines to climb.
• Haricot commun — Fixes nitrogen in the soil to support the heavy feeding yam.

Espèces similaires

• Dioscorea rotundata — A closely related species also grown for its edible tubers.

Science

Famille

Dioscoreaceae

Genre

Dioscorea

Ordre

Dioscoreales

Classe

Liliopsida

Région d'origine

Tropical Southeast Asia

Préservation

This species is widely cultivated and not currently of conservation concern.

It thrives in warm, humid tropical environments and climbs using twining stems to reach sunlight.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, coléoptères

Utilisations

food crop, ornamental vine

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I grow this in a pot?

Yes, but you need a very large container to accommodate the large tuber growth.

When do I harvest?

Harvest when the foliage begins to yellow and die back in late autumn.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name honors the ancient Greek physician Dioscorides, while the species name alata refers to the winged stems.

Bon à savoir

• It is also known as the greater yam or purple yam.
• The plant produces aerial tubers called bulbils that can also be used for propagation.
• It is a significant crop in the Philippines where it is called ube.
• The vines can grow quite long, often requiring sturdy trellising.