Dioscorea discolor is a tuberous climbing vine in the yam family (Dioscoreaceae) native to tropical South America — including Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. It’s valued as an indoor plant for its slender twining stems and striking heart‑shaped leaves, which are velvety textured and marked with a pale green to silvery midrib on the upper surface and rich purplish‑maroon beneath. The leaves emerge deep green and gradually develop contrasting variegation with age, often resembling a magnified pixel pattern of dark, light, and silver tones.
This species is tuberous, producing aerial stems that can reach several metres indoors if supported. In its native habitat, it produces small, fragrant white flowers in hanging panicles; however, flowering is rare under indoor conditions. It produces greenhouse-like foliage cyclically, entering dormancy when temperatures or light levels drop. In the UK, indoor cultivation is generally evergreen if warmth and moisture are maintained.
Native to: Tropical South America — primarily Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Leaves are heart‑shaped (~8–12 cm long), deep green with pale/silvery midrib and veins, purplish‑maroon beneath, stems slender and twining.
Water: Keep substrate evenly moist but well draining. Do not allow to dry out between waterings, but avoid waterlogging — allow about 1/3 of the pot volume space for drainage. During dormancy (if foliage dies back), reduce watering and keep slightly dry until new growth resumes .
Light: Bright filtered light is ideal. Tolerates light shade but avoid full sun; direct sunlight may scorch leaves. A bright east- or west-facing window with sheer shades works well.
Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity. Typical indoor UK levels are fine, but boosting to above 70 % will encourage healthy growth.
Temperature: Thrives between 18–29 °C. Avoid temperatures below 15 °C.
