Elephant’s ears are lush, tropical accents that look good in any climate.
Elephant’s ears are lush, tropical accents that look good in any climate. These elephant’s ears are hardier than their close relatives (alocasias) and their leaves are heart-shape and larger. When summer’s warm weather arrives, they grow fast, achieving a large spread of at least 5 feet. Colocasias languish in drought but thrive in wet soils.
Taro Overview
GENUS NAME | Colocasia |
COMMON NAME | Taro |
PLANT TYPE | Bulb |
LIGHT | Part Sun, Shade, Sun |
HEIGHT | 3 to 8 feet |
WIDTH | 5 to 6 feet |
FOLIAGE COLOR | Blue/Green, Purple/Burgundy |
SEASON FEATURES | Summer Bloom |
SPECIAL FEATURES | Good for Containers, Low Maintenance |
ZONES | 10, 11, 7, 8, 9 |
PROPAGATION | Division |
PROBLEM SOLVERS | Groundcover |
More varieties for Taro
Elephant’s ear
Colocasia esculenta is also called taro. The plant bears large clumps of heart-shape, matte green leaves. The plant grows 5 feet tall. Zones 7-11
Black elephant’s ears
Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’ offers majestic purple-black leaves that grow 2 feet long on a clumping plant that spreads 6 feet tall by wide. Zones 8-11
‘Illustris’ elephant’s ears
Colocasia esculenta ‘Illustris’ bears showy black leaves veined in emerald green. Grow it in part shade to intensify the black leaf coloring. It grows 6 feet tall and wide. Zones 8-11