Origin
Plants for sale are seedlings home-grown in the Living Desert Plants greenhouses.
Where it grows
Dioscorea hemicrypta is native to South Africa. It is confined to a few mountain localities in the Little Karoo region of the Western Cape, as well as the Eastern Cape.
Special features
Dioscorea hemicrypta is one of many species of ‘elephant’s foot’ plant native to South Africa. It is a somewhat elongated caudex shape, in contrast to the oval shape of the more well-known Dioscorea elephantipes.
Like most Dioscorea, this species is dioecious, which means that there are separate male and female plants. Both are needed to pollinate and produce seed. It is also deciduous, and will lose its leaves in summer.
Care Guide
Dioscorea hemicrypta is not a fussy plant, unless it is overwatered. It prefers a lightly shaded location in the greenhouse. Avoid keeping the caudex in sun. This ‘elephant foot plant’ requires a very well-draining soil mixture with plenty of gritty components. A medium with akadama and pumice is preferred. Water well during the cooler months, once it has grown its first leaves, but keep completely dry in summer when it does not have leaves. Let the plant tell you when to water it: Water when it has leaves, keep it dry when it does not have leaves. This species is extremely prone to rot if it is watered when it is dormant.
Growing season
Autumn and winter.
Propagation
It is not possible to propagate Dioscorea hemicrypta from cuttings. The only method to propagate this species is by sowing seed.