Colocasia (Elephant Ear)

Elephant Ears typically grow 3-6' tall and wide and lends a large tropical look to a garden, water’s edge, and large containers. As the common name suggests, each leaf resembles an elephant's ear. It is primarily a foliage plant with huge 2’, heart-shaped and veined, downward-pointing leaves on long slender stems. They are excellent planted individually or in groups.

Plant the bulbs about 3 deep in a well-drained soil in spring, after the ground warms to 50°F. They are best grown in fertile, organically rich, moist soils in full sun to part shade. Full sun brings out the best leaf color, however in the hot summers of the south plants appear to do best with some light afternoon shade. Be sure to provide regular moisture, keeping the soil from drying out during dry summer periods. The plants produce prodigious amounts of growth and appreciate regular fertilization during the growing season. Plants may also be grown as pond margins in up to 6 of standing water.

Tubers may be left in the ground year-round in USDA Hardiness zones 8-10. In colder zones, bulbs should be dug up in fall after the first frost and overwintered in a cool dry place (set in dry peat or wood shavings) where temperatures do not dip below 45°F, in the same manner as done for cannas.

Supplied as a bulb.

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