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Air Yam ​Dioscorea bulbifera

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
Dio-scorea bul-bifera
Description

Air potato is an invasive herbaceous, vigorous, twining vine that climbs up other plants for support in the yam family. It will die back in the winter but regrow from tubers in the spring. The fruits vary from pea to grapefruit size and are inedible. The vine can grow up to 70 feet in length quickly, up to 8 inches per day. In North Carolina, air potato has been observed in the Mountains. It is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. 

The Air Potato reproduces in this country mainly vegetatively by underground and aerial tubers, enabling it to spread rapidly. So far only plants with female flowers have been observed in Florida. The aerial fruits are called "bulbil". They are produced at every or every other leaf node and even the smallest one is capable of sprouting. They are either light tan with a smooth surface or dark brown with a rough surface. The underground tubers are similar to the aerial fruits and produce the energy needed to make the aerial fruits. New underground tubers are produced during the growing season.

The leaves can become quite large with a long petiole and are alternate on the stem. The stems twine from right to left around plants or objects and are thick and green. The dead vines then provide a trellis for new growth to climb.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Lilioceris cheni has been released in Florida to help control the spread of this invasive plant. The beetle lays her eggs in the fruit and the larvae eat the fruit. Invasive, do not plant. Listed on the Watchlist by the NC Invasive Plant Council. See native vine suggestions to the left.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#tuberous#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#herbaceous vine#weedy vine#perennial vines#weed#sun
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#tuberous#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#herbaceous vine#weedy vine#perennial vines#weed#sun
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Dioscorea
    Species:
    bulbifera
    Family:
    Dioscoreaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
    Distribution:
    Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida and North Carolina
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    Inedible fruits
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Vine
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Partially winged seeds in a capsule. Produced only if the plant flowers and is pollinated.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Spike
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Rarely flowers and only produces female flowers so far in the USA. inflorescences are panicles 4-6 inches long that may be borne singly or in groups of up to six in the leaf axils. Each inflorescence bears many tiny greenish-white flowers. Usually flowers in the fall.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Green leaves are 2-10 inches long with heart-shaped base and pointed tip. The veins fan out from the base of the leaf and give it a puckered look. The margins are entire
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Thick green twining stems
  • Landscape:
    Problems:
    Weedy