Dioscorea polystachya
Lightroot
Common names: Chinese yam root, Climbing tuber
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Lightroot (Dioscorea polystachya) is a hardy climber from East Asia that produces a long, pencil‑shaped tuber. The tuber tastes like yam when raw or cooked. Unlike most yams, it is one of the few species whose tuber can be eaten raw, though the raw skin contains fine crystal needles that can irritate the skin; gloves and a brief rinse are advisable. The shoots climb up to several meters on supports and in late summer produce small “breeding tubers” in the leaf axils from which new plants grow. These breeding tubers and the persistent root system make the plant spread readily on loose soil; a root barrier or container culture prevents unwanted spread in a bed. Once established, the Lightroot reliably returns year after year and yields abundantly in autumn.
Care instructions
Plant tuber pieces or breeding tubers in mid‑April to late May (week 16 to 21) in deep, loose soil once the danger of frost has passed. Provide a sturdy support of at least 2 m from the start, as the shoots grow quickly and become heavy. Keep the soil evenly moist but avoid waterlogging, and mulch in summer to prevent drying out. In autumn, collect fallen breeding tubers if you wish to prevent spread in the bed. Harvest begins in October (week 40) when the leaves yellow; the tuber can be carefully dug out with a spade as it breaks easily. Wear gloves when peeling the raw tuber, as the skin can irritate the skin.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, sandy
Feeding
Medium feeder
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety — anonymous, voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?