Life Span
Annual or Biennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Epiphyte
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
-
Number of Varieties
-3
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1510-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
50.00 cm25.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Lavender
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Green, Tan
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Long Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
-
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry soil, Shallow soil
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From bulbs
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Moderate
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Shallow soil
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Mice
Bees, pollinators
Allergy
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin tone
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Soil protection
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
Cancer, Eye Problems
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Root
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used As Food
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
Common Name
Mexican Yam bean
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
In Hindi
Pachyrhizus erosus
Clamshell Orchid
In German
Yambohne
Clamshell Orchid
In French
Kłębian kątowaty
Clamshell Orchid
In Spanish
Pachyrhizus erosus
Clamshell Orchid
In Greek
Pachyrhizus erosus
Encyclia Cochleata
In Portuguese
Pachyrhizus erosus
Clamshell Orchid
In Polish
Pachyrhizus erosus
Clamshell Orchid
In Latin
Pachyrhizus erosus
Clamshell Orchid
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Liliopsida
Order
Fabales
Orchidales
Family
Fabaceae
Orchidaceae
Genus
Pachyrhizus
Prosthechea
Clade
Angiosperms
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Epidendreae
Subfamily
-
Epidendroideae
Number of Species
10050
1
27800
👆🏻