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- Sold in a pack of 3 plants and price includes the shipping charges for these plants. If you order other products, they will require separate shipping.
Introducing the stunning elephant's foot succulent, also known as Dioscorea elephantipes a succulent plant that belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family. It earned its common name, elephant’s foot plant, because of its tuberous caudex, which resembles an elephant's foot during its growth period. The caudex is the swollen underground stem that stores water and nutrients for your Elephant's foot succulent.
The Dioscorea elephantipes have several other common names, such as Hottentot bread, Tortoise back plant, and Turtle back plant. Native to the arid regions of South Africa and Namibia, this beautiful plant has thick, fleshy stems and heart-shaped leaves covered in a waxy cuticle, which helps reduce water loss and protect it from extreme temperatures.
The Elephant Foot plant is a slow-growing species that can grow up to 10 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Over time it develops a thick caudex that resembles an elephant's foot or small tree trunk and has a rough and textured surface.
As the Dioscorea elephantipes elephant’s foot plant matures, it produces tendrils that can climb and attach to nearby structures for support.
The Dioscorea elephantipes is summer-deciduous, dropping its leaves during the summer, with stems typically dying back and new shoots emerging in winter.
The flowers of Dioscorea elephantipes are greenish-yellow and bloom in late fall and early winter. This elephant foot plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers in separate plants. The pale greenish-yellow flowers appear in winter, with male flowers in erect racemes and female flowers in spinescent spikes. They grow on long, slender stalks that emerge from the Dioscorea elephantipes caudex, adding a touch of charm to this already fascinating plant.
With its unique appearance and adaptability, the Elephant Foot succulent is a captivating addition to any succulent collection. Its distinctive caudex and climbing tendrils make it a real eye-catcher. Ensure proper conditions and care for this stunning plant, which can live for over 70 years and is a prized addition to collections for its architectural beauty.
