Dioscorea villosa – Wild Yam – 2-Quart

Grown almost exclusively for the wonderful texture of its heavily pleated foliage, this is a simple, but elegant herbaceous vine that dies back to the ground each winter. Mature, established plants can be fast growers though, typically growing to 10-15’ and occasionally reaching 20-30’ high in a single season (if they have a support that tall to grow on). Wild Yam is dioecious – male and female flowers occur on separate plants – neither flower type is showy however. Wild Yam is related to the tropical Yam found in grocery stores, but it does not produce edible tubers. In New York, Wild Yam is restricted to a few southern and western counties including  Ulster County.