Dioscorea alata, also known as purple yam, ube, or greater yam, among many other names, is a species of yam. The tubers are usually a vivid violet-purple to bright lavender in color, but some range in color from cream to plain white.

Plant the tubers  deep  1 feet apart. It's recommended to add organic mulch on top to hold in water and prevent weeds. Dioscorea alata can be grown in containers, but you'll have to watch the size. Use at least a 5-gallon container and harvest the yam before it outgrows its home.

  Common Name(s): Winged yam, ube, purple yam, greater yam, white yam, water yam

  Days to Harvest: 6-8 months

  Water: Consistently moist

  Soil: Loamy, loose, well-draining.

The purple yam (ube) is a starchy root vegetable that’s a great source of carbs, potassium, and vitamin C.

One cup (100 grams) of cooked ube provides the following (1Trusted Source):

Very versatile

 Purple yams have a wide range of culinary uses.

These versatile tubers can be boiled, mashed, fried, or baked. They are often used in a variety of dishes in place of other starchy vegetables, including:

 stews

 soups

 stir-fries

 In the Philippines, purple yams are made into a flour which is used in many desserts.

 Furthermore, ube can be processed into a powder that can be used to make vibrantly colored foods, including rice, candy, cakes, desserts, and jams...