Wild Yam is a vine that grows in dry to moist woodlands in the lower half of the lower peninsula. Plants either produce male flowers or female flowers. The flowers look somewhat similar at least in size, but the female flowers sit on top of an ovary (I don’t have a photo of these flowers but you can see one at Minnesota Wildflowers). If you want your plants to produce seed, buy 3-5 to increase your chances of having both sexes.
Leaves of wild yam are cordate (heart-shaped), smooth, but with deep veins. And leaves can be quite thick on the vine providing cover for nesting birds.
The seed pods have three sides and each section has two seeds. the seeds have wings on them and can be blown in the wind.
There is no underground tuber that is formed on this plant.
This is truly a beautiful vine and planting vines is a way to use even more of your space to support wildlife.
Companion Plants: dogwoods, redbud, New York fern, maidenhair fern, golden ragwort, Virginia bluebells, flat-topped white aster, honewort, green dragon, beak grass, wood reedgrass
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Michigan Flora reference page for statewide distribution: Wild Yam
Bloom Time: June-July
Height: 6-15 feet
Soil: moist to dry loam, sandy loam
Sun: part-sun, dappled light to full sun, for flowers and seed capsules to be produced, more sun is better
Plant spacing: 2’
Flower: white
Life cycle: perennial
Family: Dioscoreaceae
Seed source: Michigan
Sizes:
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Wild Yam is a vine that grows in dry to moist woodlands in the lower half of the lower peninsula. Plants either produce male flowers or female flowers. The flowers look somewhat similar at least in size, but the female flowers sit on top of an ovary (I don’t have a photo of these flowers but you can see one at Minnesota Wildflowers). If you want your plants to produce seed, buy 3-5 to increase your chances of having both sexes.
Leaves of wild yam are cordate (heart-shaped), smooth, but with deep veins. And leaves can be quite thick on the vine providing cover for nesting birds.
The seed pods have three sides and each section has two seeds. the seeds have wings on them and can be blown in the wind.
There is no underground tuber that is formed on this plant.
This is truly a beautiful vine and planting vines is a way to use even more of your space to support wildlife.
Companion Plants: dogwoods, redbud, New York fern, maidenhair fern, golden ragwort, Virginia bluebells, flat-topped white aster, honewort, green dragon, beak grass, wood reedgrass
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Michigan Flora reference page for statewide distribution: Wild Yam
Bloom Time: June-July
Height: 6-15 feet
Soil: moist to dry loam, sandy loam
Sun: part-sun, dappled light to full sun, for flowers and seed capsules to be produced, more sun is better
