Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Dioscorea quaternata

Fourleaf Yam · Four-leaved Yam

Family DioscoreaceaeGenus Dioscorea

A young vine with broad heart-shaped green leaves on a thin stem, over leaf litter
LeafJohn FonesCC0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
climbing rhizomatous geophytePlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herb, VinePLANTS Database
Native range
Native to the lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 14 days.

40% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dioscorea p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dioscorea (Dloscoriaceae). D. quaternata germ. 70-40-70(2/5 in 2nd w) and 40-70(1/5 in 2nd w)-40(1/5 in 8th w) using fresh seed
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dioscorea p. 133. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 22, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    1/5 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 14 days.

20% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Dioscorea p. 133Public domain
Show the original text
Dioscorea (Dloscoriaceae). D. quaternata germ. 70-40-70(2/5 in 2nd w) and 40-70(1/5 in 2nd w)-40(1/5 in 8th w) using fresh seed
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Dioscorea p. 133. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page