Elephant Ear
Colocasia esculenta
📖 About this plant
A spectacular tropical plant with enormous, arrow-shaped or heart-shaped leaves that can reach 60-120 cm long, creating an instant jungle atmosphere. The leaves are held on thick, succulent stems and come in shades of deep green, purple, or black. Some varieties have striking veins or metallic sheens. The edible corm (taro) is a staple food crop across the tropics.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Partial shade to bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
Every 2-3 days
High (60-80%)
20-30°C
Rich, moist, well-draining soil with high organic matter; loamy soil amended with compost and peat
Heavy feeder — high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southeast Asia and India; cultivated for food (taro) for over 5000 years; naturalized in tropical regions worldwide
- 📏 Max height
- 90-300 cm (depending on variety)
- 📐 Spread
- 90-180 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Yellow
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, Purple
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- TOXIC — all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals; raw parts cause severe burning and swelling of mouth and throat; corms are edible only when cooked thoroughly
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of corms or tubers in spring; each section must have a growing bud; also from cormels (small offsets)
🛡️ Health & Safety
TOXIC — all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals; raw parts cause severe burning and swelling of mouth and throat; corms are edible only when cooked thoroughly
Common issues
- Root rot from overwatering, Spider mites, Leaf tearing from wind, Aphids
💡 Care tips
- Massive heart-shaped leaves can grow over 3 feet long,Plant in rich organic soil that retains moisture,Dig up bulbs before frost in cold climates,All parts are toxic if ingested by pets or children
