The Elephant Ear (Colocasia) is a tropical plant that grows up to 9 feet (2.7 m) tall and sprouts large, arrow-shaped leaves that resemble the ears on an elephant. Elephant ears are tropical foliage plants with large dark green leaves. Insecticidal soap and some pesticides can help, though thrips are hard to control due to their rate of reproduction and slender shape. To grow these stunning plants, plant the bulbs in the early spring with the right soil conditions. Elephant ears are fantastic zone 9 plants and above — you usually won’t have to worry about frost in these zones. Araceae (arum) Also known as. Did not know you can grow indoors, thank, "Gave me a good basic understanding of how to grow elephant ears. Colors of the foliage may be anywhere from purplish black, green or green/white variegated. Alocasia Polly Elephant Ear plant print, Botanical Print, Plant Wall Art, Kitchen Decor, Elephant Ear, Tropical home decor, Large leaf Print DESIGNitPRETTY. Last Updated: March 22, 2020 ", "Gave me info that made me more confident in growing elephant ear plants. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. As a gardener you will zoom in on pictures of large, green leaves that so cleverly resemble those flappy elephant ears on the real animal. Larger bulbs will need slightly deeper holes. Large perennial (<3 m tall) with a thick, fleshy rhizome with milky sap. Fragrant, creamy-yellow to orange flowers (Jan-Apr) form a spike enclosed by a green bract. ", clay soil is bad, and that shade can benefit the plant. ", "The step-by-step instructions were a tremendous help to me. Approved. Elephant ears use a different method to deter animals from eating their leaves. Dasheen, chembu, eddoe, and tarul are just a few of the names belonging to this genus, with others that are even more a mouthful to say. Elephant ear (taro plant) tubers eventually work their way upward through the soil, so every few years, re-bury your elephant ears at least 6" deep to ensure winter hardiness. Read on for another quiz question. Especially comfortable, since I chose a 36", "This article helped me with winter storage and growing in the winter. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Check the top five inches or so of soil around the plant for dryness and adjust watering as needed. unlocking this staff-researched answer. If you’re after a good indoors house plant, check out the Alocasia species. While the flowering plants in this closely related genus are known as “elephant ear,” you wouldn’t think that their other names include “Angel Wings” and “Heart of Jesus,” unless you usually think of elephants with angel wings sprouting from their backs. This could be the case, but in most cases the browning is caused by too much sun and too LITTLE water. ", "It was very through and I particularly liked the question and answer section. Huge, heart-shaped leaves come in black, purple, emerald green, chartreuse, yellow, or a mix of colors. Can it grow in a big pot/planter indoors? perennial (14) Plant Type. Absolutely! While you're here, why not follow us on Facebook and YouTube? To lower a soil’s pH, add some sulphur, gypsum, or organic compost. Only 17 left in stock - order soon. Though it doesn’t usually kill entire plants, it does kill leaves and makes the plant susceptible to other nasty critters. Where is it originally from? Recreate tropical conditions in your garden by keeping the soil moist and not letting it dry out. Colocasia Illustris, Black Beauty, and Coal Miner are the only ones with below-ground runners. To increase a soil’s pH, sprinkle a little garden lime or limestone into the soil. If there's still no sprout after 3 weeks, carefully dig up the bulb to inspect it for rot. We also have clay soil, "I picked up an elephant ear plant at local supermarket. What does it mean if the leaves of your elephant ear are turning yellow? There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Why should you wear gloves while trimming elephant ear leaves? For tips on maintaining you elephant ear plants by trimming the leaves and transplanting them, read on! Share your coffee with me if you have any (I need a refill. ", Wanted to make sure I gave her good instructions. ", southern-facing beds this spring. Black stems, leaves shaped like small cups. The mammoth leaves can be more than 3 feet long on plants that can grow higher than 6 feet tall. You can discard the leaves or keep them to wrap the bulbs in for storage. Try another answer... Not quite! Different shades of green and yellow appear through the leaves when sun light hits the leaves which is an attractive sight. If you’re looking for cool plants to grow, this is a one of a kind houseplant or outdoor ornamental. Choose a clumping variety of elephant ears if you don’t want them to spread. Repeat after me: moisture, moisture, moisture. Look for a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen. While my earlier warnings of digestive issues from consuming this plant may put a few readers off their feed, it is true that every part of this plant is edible as long as it’s prepared correctly. To grow elephant ear plants, plant the bulbs in the spring, during April or May, in an area that receives indirect sunlight and has moist soil with good drainage. Before you try tossing a few into your next meal, keep in mind they can be poisonous if they’re not cooked. The easiest way would be to grow them in pots and bring them into the house once the temperatures dip. "It's good to know the right temperatures to plant elephant ears. Even though elephant ears are tropical plants, it is possible to over-water them. Elephant ears like humid areas but not necessarily direct sunlight. After that, look at pictures of the different ones and see which ones are most pleasing to you. Alocasia also known as The "Elephant's Ear'' is a hybrid that has become a ornamental house plant . To keep herbivores from filling their mouths with it, these plants have raphides, or microscopic calcium oxalate needles, which help facilitate the transfer of an irritant that causes severe discomfort. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The stem of an elephant ear plant is smooth, not thorny, so it won't stab you. Pick the Colocasia variety. Mature Elephant Ear plants can grow up to 8 foot tall, similarly this is around the same size of actual African Elephant Ears of 6 feet. Elephant ears do like their soil rich with organic compost and organic fertilizers. Alocasia, genus of broad-leaved perennials in tropical & subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia; Caladium, ornamental plants with arrowhead-shaped leaves originally from South America; Colocasia (taro), a genus of flowering plants native to tropical Polynesia and southeastern Asia Choose a pot that’s large enough for the roots to spread out both horizontally and vertically. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. I leave mine in the ground and they come back every year. All my questions were, "I wanted to grow elephant ear plants, but had no idea how. Do I have to dig them up every winter, or can I leave the tuber in the ground? As far as how deep to plant elephant ear bulbs, you should plant tubers fairly close to the soil’s surface, perhaps two to four inches. This simple but thorough tutorial was very helpful! Zone 8b and further south may be able to overwinter outside with some protection but a hard winter might make its spring comeback difficult. Several genera in the family Araceae (Arums) . I can’t help you with the animals ;). Giant elephant ear ( Colocasia gigantea) and Taro ( Colocasia esculenta) are plants in the Colocasia family that both get referred to as elephant ears. But the leaf remnants don't affect how well the bulbs do in storage, so you don't need to get rid of them by drying or any other means. An under-watered elephant ear's leaves will droop and brown, not turn yellow. It loves a bright warm room with indirect sunlight. Vietnam, which boasts a species or two such as vietnamensis, is known for the use of elephant ear stalks as an herb in various soups and stir-fry dishes. Elephant ear plant, tarul, dasheen, chembu, champadhumpa, Colocasia / Xanthosoma / Caladium / Alocasia. While a few varieties may put a root or two over the dividing lines, most Colocasia are either clumpers or runners. From shop DESIGNitPRETTY. Elephant ear plants aren't super-dangerous, but the liquid in their leaves is a skin irritant that can give you a rash. deep (12 cm). "Great, thorough step-by-step instructions. Thank you! Leaves contain a milky sap. When it gets cold outside, dig up the bulbs to store them and plant them again next spring. Ceylon, Tahiti. Then, when it’s warm enough, transfer them to your garden. Over-watered elephant ear plants will have stunted growth, but their leaves won't turn yellow. I have it indoors and it's doing ok. % of people told us that this article helped them. They include several from New Guinea, like aequiloba, boa, and monticola, and others from places like Malaysia, the Philippines, Sulawesi, and Borneo. Droopy leaves mean you need to water the plant. So many elephant ears, so little time! Native to tropical and subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia, there are 79 species of this popular potted house plant. Where I live our last frost is in May, when should I plant the tubers indoors to be able to have a small sprouting plant to transfer outside? Elephant ear leaves aren't sharp-edged. Elephant ears are native to Central and South America where their large tubers are eaten like a potato. Elephant ear Botanical Name. For example, aquatilis may not be a good choice for small gardens as it produces very long above-ground runners, or stolons. 30pcs/Bag Heirloom Alocasia Macrorrhiza Taro Seeds Green Giant Taro Seeds Plantas Indoor Plant DIY Bonsai Elephant Ear Taro Vegetable Rare Plants. What can cause the elephant ear plant to droop or lay down? Alocasia Elephant Ears. Large, robust perennial herb <3m tall. Their araceous flowers grow at the end of a short stalk, but are not conspicuous; often hidden behind the leaf petioles. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,341,224 times. Elephant Ears needs room to grow. This article has been viewed 1,341,224 times. Why should you let your elephant ear bulbs dry out before storing them? Not exactly! Yup! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Thrips – Some of their other names are more exciting, like thunderflies and storm bugs. Your choice. Alocasia types sometimes do better in a controlled greenhouse environment. Putting them in mesh bags and tucking them in layers of peat moss is good storage method. Spider mites – Even the name gives me the creeps. Thank you, "Success in growing in a pot is letting it hang or be a climber. Most people plant them deliberately, but if they are not carefully controlled, they can take over your entire yard. Contain the runners by creating a deep edge between the elephant ears and other plants ins your garden. I created Epic Gardening to help teach 10,000,000 people how to grow anything, no matter where they live in the world. Transfer the started plant outside when night temperatures are over 50 degrees. Try again! ", determine that it all needed to be submerged underground. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Other recommendations include ferns of contrasting colors, flowers like begonias, and foliage with smaller leaves like Coleus. On the other hand, if you live in an area where it's sub-freezing for an extended period of time and the tuber, even 2" deep, could freeze, you'll lose it if you leave it in the ground. If you’re a bit boggled by all the different names you see associated with the elephant ear plant, don’t be discouraged. If they get less than that, the leaves will start to turn yellow as the chloroplasts die off. 5 out of 5 stars (1,794) 1,794 reviews $ 59.97 FREE shipping Favorite Add to RARE Alocasia ‘Dragon Scale’ - Free shipping! ", "Very well-written. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0e\/Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-1.jpg\/aid19529-v4-728px-Grow-Elephant-Ear-Plants-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":308,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":487,"licensing":"