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Wild Yam

About Wild Yam

Wild Yam is a perennial vine found in moist forests and woodlands in eastern Canada and the U.S.A. Individual plants are either male or female. The flowers on a male are panicles and appear in clusters of 1 to 3 along the branches. The female flowers appear on 3-9" racemes of 5-15 flowers that develop from the leaf axils. Female flowers are replaced by 1" capsules that contain 1-2 seeds.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Dioscorea villosa

Genus

Dioscorea

Family

Dioscoreaceae

Order

Dioscoreales

Also known as

Colic root, Rheumatism root, Devil's bones and Fourleaf yam

How to care for Wild Yam

💦 Water

How often to water your Wild Yam

Wild Yam needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Wild Yam in your home

Wild Yam love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Wild Yam does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Wild Yam in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Wild Yam

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Wild Yam: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Wild Yam after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #WildYam

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Wild Yam prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Wild Yam Water Frequency →

Wild Yam Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Wild Yam requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Wild Yam Light Requirements →

Wild Yam Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Wild Yam is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Wild Yam does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Wild Yam →

Best Pots for Wild Yam →

What Are Healthy Wild Yam Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Wild Yam is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Wild Yam →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Wild Yam is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.

Wild Yam Lifecycle →

Wild Yam Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Wild Yam →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Wild Yam can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-8b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Wild Yam Temperature Tolerance →

Wild Yam Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Wild Yam →

When to Plant Wild Yam →

How to Plant Wild Yam →

Where to Plant Wild Yam →

Winter Care for Wild Yam →

Best Companion Plants for Wild Yam →

Is Wild Yam a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Wild Yam can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Wild Yam →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Wild Yam, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.