Colocasia esculenta
elephant's ears
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moist to boggy, slightly acidic soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Hardiness: frost tender (will need winter protection)
- Bulb size: 9/11
Stately, heart-shaped, deep green leaves, which are marbled with subtle purple blotches and beautifully intersected with dark veins, are held grandly splayed out on jet black stems. An elegant and seductively hypnotic plant that will thrive in reliably moist soils. - Garden care: Elephant's ears can be planted outside after frost, or started off in pots under glass in late winter to early spring. Plant the bulbs so that their growing tip is just above the soil surface (if there are no noticeable shoots or roots, the end with the concentric rings goes uppermost, while the end with the holes will produce the roots). Water sparingly initially and keep the compost warm. Provide adequate moisture during the growing season and lift the bulbs in autumn before the frosts (or if grown in pots, move them under warm glass) and keep the tubers dry and frost free throughout winter.
- Harmful if eaten/skin & eye irritant