(Purpleleaf Elephant Ear, Purpleleaf Taro)

Lush, beautiful plants, Alocasia impart a tropical feeling wherever planted. Choose locations with part to full shade and organic, well drained soil.

There are potential health concerns regarding this plant. To learn more go to http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Alocasp.htm

(Giant Elephant Ear)

Unusual upright leaves mark this tender evergreen perennial from Indonesia and New Guinea. Its slowly creeping underground rhizomes send forth short fleshy trunk-like stems. Each "trunk" bears several narrow, lance-shaped, long-stalked leaves with distinctively scalloped margins. The stiff, waxy, dark green leaves have burgundy-purple undersides and purple-mottled stems. Inconspicuous greenish blossoms with a central finger-like spadix and a clasping petal-like bract (spathe) are sometimes borne...

(Giant Elephant Ear)

This large herbaceous plant with huge upright leaves says "tropical" in any landscape. The giant taro is native to a vast area of Asia: Sri Lanka and India through Southeast Asia into the islands of Indonesia. It can reach impressive size in both well-draining clay and loams, but also in sand if rich in organic matter. Unlike other taros, this species will form a thickened trunk that can reach 3-6 ft/1-1.5m. Leaves are the crowning jewel of the plant with immense size and being held on long stems....

(Giant Elephant Ear)

The thick yellow stems that angle upward from the underground rhizome contrast the satiny green of the large leaves magnificently on cultivar 'Lutea'. The yellow giant taro or giant elephant ear is native to a vast area of Asia: Sri Lanka and India through Southeast Asia into Indonesia. It can reach impressive size in warm, moist, well-drained clays and loams, but also in sand if enriched with lots of organic matter.

Leaves are the crowning jewel of the plant with immense size and being held...

(Giant Elephant Ear, Variegated Giant Elephant Ear)

No two leaf color patterns are alike on the variegated giant elephant ear. With origins in a wide-spreading tropical region from Sri Lanka and India through Southeast Asia into Indonesia, it grows best in warm soils and high humidity. Cultivar 'Variegata' can reach impressive size in warm, moist, well-drained clays and loams, but also in sand if enriched with lots of organic matter. It tends to be slower growing that other green-leaved selections, and seemingly more intolerant of cool weather. Heat...

(Elephant Ear, Taro)

Green-velvet taro is a tropical perennial native to the Philippines. Waxy (yet velvety) green, streamlined, arrowhead-shaped leaves have gently waving edges and creamy white veins. During the growing season flowers with a spathe (hooded cloak) and spadix (finger-like cone) may appear but is usually overpowered by the foliage.

Grow green-velvet taro in full to moderate shade, or bright diffused light with protection from scorching sun rays. It requires warm, moist, organic-rich soil with good...

(Elephant Ear, Freydyk Variegated Taro, Taro)

Exquisite, mask-like, variegated leaves are the highlight of Alocasia micholitziana 'Variegated Freydyk'. Originating from the warm, moist regions of Asia, it is a favorite of tropical gardeners.

Its large arrow-shaped leaves emerge from thick rhizomes. The dark green leaves are spectacularly mottled with yellow, green and creamy white. They are waxy, velvety with wavy edges and white veins.

Anthurium-like flowers appear when growing conditions are favorable. They consist of...

(Asian Taro, Giant Alocasia, Giant Upright Elephant Ear, Hardy Elephant Ear)

Massive, arrow-shaped leaves make the giant alocasia a must-have for a tropical rainforest garden. A native of India, southern China, and northern Myanmar, the large rhizome gives rise to huge herbaceous and fleshy stems and leaves growing grows into a non-invasive clump with time. It also loves moisture, heat and humidity. Perhaps no other taro, even Alocasia macrorrhizos, is larger than this species. It will die back to the rhizome after a frost, and will return in late spring provided the winter...

(Metallic Taro, Silver Leaf Elephant Ear)

Metallic taro is a tropical perennial native to Indonesia with large, brilliantly shiny dark green leaves borne on red-purple upward-reaching stems (petioles). In time these petioles deepen to almost red-black. Leaf undersides are a satiny beige in color and leaf edges are wavy.

Metallic taro prefers moderate shade or bright diffused light and protection from scorching sun rays. It requires moist organic-rich soil, with enough drainage to allow fresh water to pass through. Use indoors as...

(Black Metallic Taro, Metallic Taro, Silver Leaf Elephant Ear)

Black metallic taro is a tropical perennial native to Indonesia. The large leaves have a lustrous sheen that, to the eye, changes in color from dark green or black to a deep purple. The undersides are silver-purple with darker veins and the leaves' edges are wavy.

Black metallic taro prefers moderate shade and protection from scorching sun rays. It requires moist organic-rich soil, with enough drainage to allow fresh water to pass through. High humidity keeps the leaves from browning or scalding...