Cyphostemma Quinatum (Five-Finger Wild Grape) is a Perennial Succulent is Native to South Africa.  This Climber is a Unique Caudiciform featuring a Thick and Fleshy Base Trunk or Underground Tuber that Stores Water for the Drought Season.  The Thick, Palmate Leaves are Lush Green and Consist of Five Leaflets (Fingers).  The Leaves have a Waxy Texture that minimizes Transpiration.  These Beautiful Climbers produce Greenish Yellow, Bell Shaped Flowers.  As the Flowers get Pollinated, they become Fleshy Bright Red to Orange Berries that contain "Raphides" (Calcium Oxalate Crystals), which can cause severe digestive problems is swallowed.  This is a common Trait among the Vitaceae Family.

Magical and Ritual Properties:

Many Cyphostemma species are utilized as "charms" to protect homesteads from lightning and evil spirits. Because the plant is a succulent that remains turgid even in drought, it is symbolically associated with resilience and the "cooling" of spiritual heat. In some traditions, the crushed roots or caudex are used in ritual washes to "strengthen" an individual against external metaphysical threats.

The "magical" reputation of the plant often stems from its potent chemical properties. In traditional African medicine, extracts from the genus are used to treat inflammatory conditions such as sore throats, coughs, and even snake bites. Recent pharmacological studies on related species like Cyphostemma juttae have identified essential oils rich in phytol (approximately 30%), which demonstrate significant anti-proliferative effects against aggressive cancer cell lines by inhibiting the NF-κB transcription factor. This scientific validation of the plant's "power" to combat internal "decay" or "growth" aligns with traditional views of the plant as a cleanser of the body.

The five-fingered leaf arrangement carries numerological significance in various folk practices, often representing the human hand or the five senses. This makes the plant a popular choice for "hand" charms intended to bring luck in manual tasks or to ward off the "evil eye.  In horticultural circles, it is prized as a "living sculpture," where its caudex is viewed as a symbol of longevity and hidden strength.

All Plants are Shipped Bare-Root.  All Pots and Planters are Sold Separately.

Keep Cyphostemma Quinatum above 30F.

Use a Gritty Soil Amendment with an Organic Soil Mix.

You will Receive the Exact Plant Shown in the Photograph.