In the wild, Dioscorea elephantipes can be found in the arid regions of the Cape Town area. The species is named after an "elephant's foot," but other names also refer to the similarity between the root tuber and a turtle shell. As the species matures, the tuber begins to split, giving the plant its striking appearance. Dioscorea elephantipes produces a flower stem with heart-shaped leaves in the summer. Dozens of star-shaped yellow flowers appear on this stem during flowering.

Due to its natural habitat, Dioscorea elephantipes requires little care in your home. It is a plant that is quite resistant to low temperatures. In the wild, the species can tolerate freezing temperatures. At home, the plant can safely be kept in the living room. Dioscorea elephantipes goes into a dormant period in winter and must therefore be kept at a temperature of below 10 ° C for three weeks. This will return the plant to a growth cycle. Water the plant once a week with a quarter of the recommended strong plant food during the growing period. In the rest period this can be reduced to once every two weeks without plant food. A coarse mix of pumice stone and sand is recommended as a substrate. You can find this, in addition to other growing supplies, in our "Plant accessories" section. It is wise to support the stems of Dioscorea elephantipes as they grow.