No, it is in the same family as yams but is not edible and is toxic.

Does it need a trellis?

Yes, it is a climber that needs support to reach its full potential.

Plant guide

Black Bryony.

Dioscorea communis

Pronounced dy-oh-SKOR-ee-uh kom-YOO-nis

Also known as Black Bryony

The black bryony is a fascinating climbing vine native to Europe and parts of North Africa. It is known for its heart shaped leaves and bright red berries that appear in late summer. You will often find it scrambling through hedgerows in the wild.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial climber
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 3 to 4 meters
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Provide a sturdy trellis for this vigorous climber to wrap its stems around. Watch for yellowing leaves which often indicate the plant is entering its natural dormancy period. Keep the soil consistently moist but ensure it drains well to prevent tuber rot.

Watering: Keep the soil moist during the active growing season but allow it to dry out slightly during winter dormancy.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer months.
Pruning: Cut back dead stems to the ground once the foliage dies back completely in late autumn.
Repotting: Repot only when the tuberous roots have completely filled the container.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Temperature: -15 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals and saponins which cause severe irritation and poisoning.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, causing severe irritation and digestive upset.
Children: The bright red berries are highly attractive to children but are poisonous if eaten.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause severe skin irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant evidence of respiratory allergies associated with this plant.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are toxic if ingested, especially the berries and tubers.

How to identify it

Heart shaped glossy green leaves
Twining stems that climb clockwise
Clusters of small greenish flowers
Bright red poisonous berries
Large tuberous root system

Height: 2 to 4m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: greenish-yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: red, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Leaf spot · Fungal spots may appear on leaves during wet seasons.

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The foliage dies back completely in winter. Leave the roots in the ground and mulch if you live in a very cold area.

Seed

1. Collect ripe red berries in autumn.
2. Clean the seeds from the pulp.
3. Sow immediately in pots outdoors to allow for natural cold stratification.

Provide sturdy woody shrubs for this plant to climb so it does not smother smaller perennials.

Grows well with

Common Hazel · It naturally climbs through the branches of hazel trees in the wild.
English Ivy · They share similar woodland edge habitats.

Similar species

White Bryony · It shares a similar climbing habit and red berries but belongs to a different family.

Science

Family: Dioscoreaceae
Genus: Dioscorea
Order: Dioscoreales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.
Conservation: This plant is common and not of conservation concern.

It grows in hedgerows and woodland edges where it climbs through shrubs for light.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, bird food
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ornamental climber, wildlife garden plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a true yam?: No, it is in the same family as yams but is not edible and is toxic.
Does it need a trellis?: Yes, it is a climber that needs support to reach its full potential.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors the Greek physician Dioscorides, while the species name means common.

Good to know

It is the only member of the yam family native to Europe.
The tubers can grow quite large and deep underground.
It uses twining stems to climb over other vegetation.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.