Dioscorea elephantipes naturally occurs in the dry areas around Cape Town in South Africa. It is a caudex plant whose root tuber is commonly compared to an elephant’s foot or a tortoise shell. As the plant gets older, the tuber increasingly cracks open, which gives the plant its characteristic and decorative appearance. In summer, the plant forms a flower stem with heart-shaped leaves. During the flowering period, dozens of small, star-shaped yellow flowers appear. For additional product information about Dioscorea elephantipes, you can consult the Araflora product symbols.

Thanks to its natural origin, Dioscorea elephantipes requires relatively little care. The plant is well resistant to lower temperatures and in the wild can even tolerate temperatures around freezing point. At home, it can be kept in the living room without any problems. In winter, however, the plant enters a dormant period. To stimulate a new growth cycle, it is recommended to place it for three weeks at a temperature below 10 °C. During the growing period, watering once a week with a quarter of the recommended dosage of strong plant fertilizer is sufficient. During the dormant period, this can be reduced to once every two weeks, without fertilizer. Preferably use an airy substrate, such as a coarse mix of pumice stone and sand. Support the stems during growth for a beautiful and healthy result. For more care tips, you can consult the Araflora plant care symbols.