(Elephant Ear, Heart of the Jungle Taro, Taro)

Colocasia is a small genus of about 7 species of large-leaved tropical plants that inhabit the warm moist areas of southern Asia. The most widely grown species is Colocasia esculenta, otherwise known as elephant ear or taro, which is used worldwide as a dietary staple.

Elephant ears are usually perennial, evergreen or deciduous, and have large tuberous roots and rhizomes (underground lateral stems) that grow at or just below the ground surface. The leaves are roughly arrow-shaped...

(Elephant Ear, Jet Black Wonder Taro, Taro)

Grown by gardeners solely for the exotic look and huge size of its leaves, taro is a tropical perennial. This selection, ‘Jet Black Wonder,’ has leaves that are quilted, slightly ruffled and so dark that naming their color is tricky. They are not black but a shade of deep, smoky purple. The plant grows from a large tuber-like corm (an energy-storing underground stem). The leaves rise directly from the tuber on tall, thick, arching petioles (leaf stems) that are dark purple too. The leaves pose with...

(Elephant Ear, Royal Hilo Taro, Taro)

Colocasia ‘Royal Hilo’ is a large tropical perennial that is primarily grown for its broad arrow-shaped leaves and its colorful stems. Matte green leaves with maroon underveins perch horizontally on long stout maroon-stained stalks. The small calla-like flowers are rarely produced. Evergreen in mild climates, colocasia is winter-dormant in the colder parts of its range, dying back to a starchy tuber.

Colocasia prefers full to moderate shade and protection from scorching sun rays. It requires...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

A large, perennial native to India and tropical Asia, taro is grown for its starchy, edible, bulb-like corms and huge heart-shaped leaves that add drama to the landscape. It is considered one of the first plants cultivated by humans for food and is now naturalized throughout most of the subtropical and tropical regions of the world.

Also called elephant year, Colocasia esculenta produces huge arrow-shaped leaves held on tall leaf stems that arise directly from the corm. The leaf stem...

(Black Magic Taro, Elephant Ear, Taro)

A large, tuberous perennial native to tropical Asia, taro is grown for its huge heart-shaped leaves that add drama to the landscape. Its cultivar 'Black Magic' has striking purple-black foliage. In areas where the tubers will not overwinter in the ground, it can be lifted and stored in the fall, or grown in containers.

Beautiful near a water feature, 'Black Magic' grows well in shallow water or in any evenly moist, humus-rich, neutral to slightly acid soil. In regions with very mild winters,...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

The big, bold elephant ear, ‘Blue Hawaii’, has large green leaves with bluish purple edges and leaf veins, which are supported by semi-glossy, burgundy-colored petioles (leaf stems). It was bred by John Cho at the University of Hawaii Plant Breeding Program and also boasts increased hardiness and disease-resistance in addition to a tidier, runner-free habit.

A large, tuberous perennial native to tropical Asia, taro (kalo in Hawaiian) is grown for its huge, heart-shaped leaves that add drama...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

Wake up your garden with this unusual elephant ear! 'Coffee Cups' has big, beautiful, purplish black leaves that are supported by burgundy-red stems. Each leaf folds in at the base to form a cup, hence the name. Like many elephant ears, this is a large cultivar that forms broad, spreading clumps.

A large, tuberous perennial native to tropical Asia, taro is grown for its huge, heart-shaped leaves that add drama to the landscape. It originates from India and tropical Asia, Colocasia esculenta...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

The big, bold, purplish black leaves of ‘Diamond Head’ have a smooth, glossy finish and are supported by semi-glossy, burgundy-colored petioles (leaf stems). This cultivar was bred by John Cho at the University of Hawaii Plant Breeding Program and also boasts increased hardiness and disease-resistance in addition to a tidier, runner-free habit.

A large, tuberous perennial native to tropical Asia, taro (kalo in Hawaiian) is grown for its huge, heart-shaped leaves that add drama to the landscape....

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

The enormous, colorful leaves of ‘Elena’ emerge from tall stems and have an almost showpiece quality. Each bold blade is blinding chartreuse with light, almost white veins and a purple eye spot in the center. A very cold hardy selection, ‘Elena’ likes plenty of water and forms broad, spreading clumps

A large, tuberous perennial native to tropical Asia, taro is grown for its huge, heart-shaped leaves that add drama to the landscape. It originates from India and tropical Asia, Colocasia esculenta...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

This tropical elephant ear boasts a compact habit and beautifully variegated leaves with irregular, white spots, splotches and flecks across a matte green background. Colocasia esculenta ‘Elepaio’ is named after a Hawaiian endemic bird that is a species of monarch flycatcher and is sometimes referred to as ‘Milky Way.’ It can be difficult to obtain but is well worth searching for.

A large, tuberous perennial native to tropical Asia, taro is grown for its huge, heart-shaped leaves that add...