The African ‘Elephant’s Foot’ has a caudex with a tortoise-shell pattern that can reach up to several feet across, given enough time. (Wild specimens have been known to reach over 6 feet!) The caudex produces a deciduous vine with rounded, heart shaped leaves in winter and loses it in summer for a rest period.

Caution should be taken to allow the plant to rest by withholding most water during this period! Seedlings start as subterranean caudex that will arise above the soil in time or can be uplifted when they reach a few inches in diameter.