alocasia, elephant’s ear, taro

This tropical, leathery leaf, tender bulb (corm) plant family produces shield shaped foliage ranging from green to black, veined, speckled, glossy and wavy foliage. Most mature to 2-5 feet tall with leaves 6-24 inches wide. Plant in moist soil and containers with other moisture lovers such as Impatiens. Store the bulb or treat as a houseplant over winter. The Colocasia is different from Alocasia in the respect that its foliage is nodding, downright facing (similar to a Caladium). Alocasias’ foliage points up to the sky.

Grow in sun to part shade, moist to wet soil and containers. Feed with a slow release fertilizer, Osmocote® or Plant-tone®. Follow label instructions. After leaves die in the fall, dig and dry, store bulbs in a frost free, dark place (basement) in a box with dry peat moss. Pot up tubers indoors approximately 4 weeks before the last spring frost. Mulch 2″ to suppress weeds, retain moisture and protect against extremes of soil temperature.