Taro Colocasia

This amazing plant with its massive leaves looking like elephant ears is one that makes a triumphant statement and with its heart-shaped leaves will captivate your heart into seeing the beauty in this plant. 

Colocasia is a genus of herbaceous perennials famed for their large foliage which come in a variety of shades and in some different patterns. Their leaves are heart-shaped, thin, and rubbery. Originating from Southeastern Asia, these plants enjoy loamy, fertile soil and tropical climates. They can be grown in full sun to part shade and make a very interesting accent to any garden and an amazing statement in any garden. Different species or varieties can have different characteristics such as stalk color, foliage color, and size. The largest Colocasia is C. gigantea 'Thailand Giant' which can have stalks that are 6 inches wide at the base and support leaves that can grow from 2-4 feet long.

These plants are tuberous and are known to be used in some traditional Asian cuisine. All parts of the plant are poisonous while raw, but once cooked the tubers are edible.

Colocasia is a tender perennial that cannot survive winter months in many places. In USDA Zones outside of 7b-10 you should either use this plant as an annual or dig up the tuber after the first frost and overwinter it in a cool dry area (possibly in dry wood shavings or peat) where the temperature does not fall below 45°F. The tuber should then be planted again in late April. A possibly easier method is to treat Colocasia as a container plant and move the container inside during the winter given that you have space for such a large container.

These plants can be propagated by their corms by dividing them and placing them in a large 1-gallon pot with rich peat-growing media and applying consistent moisture.

This plant (which is a perennial herb) can be used as a houseplant/ interiorscape or used in the landscape as a cultivated, tender or hardy bulb. Its hardiness is tender, injured below 68 degrees F (20 degrees C). They will need 6 feet of space.

Although this plant is a large plant much like the elephant its beauty is magnificent and one to be admired.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: This species isinvasive in wetlands along the American Gulf Coast, where it threatens to displace native wetland plants

No known diseases or insect pests.

Additional Colocasia Images at Juniper Level Botanic Garden