Elephant Ears
Published by A tropical plant.
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Black Magic Elephant Ears
Elephant ear plants or colocasia esculenta as they are scientifically known is a large tropical rainforest plant. Their large green or black leaves can grow in excess of five feet and look quite similar to the ears of an elephant.
Because of their great size they make an excellent focal point of tropical landscaping. They can be grown in containers, mixed in beds or used as borders. They are especially beautifully when colors are mixed or when planted with their smaller cousins the colorful caladiums.
Elephant ears are easy to grow and do well in hot, humid conditions. While not native to Florida they have over the years become a landscaping staple in the Sunshine State.
Their roots or tubers should be planted in the spring once the risk of frost is over. Provide an area with adequate drainage in rich organic soil. Once planted they need little care other than water and a monthly boost of nitrogen rich fertilizer. They are water hogs and can not tolerate overly dry conditions. In fact, plants too dry will droop or wilt significantly.
They can not tolerate freezing weather and in cold climates the tubers should be dug up and stored until spring. In warmer areas they may be cut to the tubers and bedded down with a thick layer of mulch. During the dormant period watering should be limited.
Some people consider elephant ears an invasive plant and they will take over a garden and spread quickly. This fact should be taken into account when choosing placement of the plants. While dormant the tubers can be divided or replanted to limit overcrowding.
In the United States elephants ears are planted for their ornamental beauty and ease of growth but other counties cook and eat the tubers. However, if not fully cooked the roots can cause severe stomach upset. Care should be taken while cutting back the leaves as the clear sap can be a skin irritant and if eaten the leaves are poisonous.
Image by turtlemom4bacon via Flickr : A Colorful Caladium
Elephant Ears in Garden. Photo owned by PR Mace
Nighttime Elephant Ears after a Rainstorm. Photo owned by PR Mace
Liked it
On August 9, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Excellent article and photos!
On August 10, 2010 at 12:22 am
They look so attractive!!
On August 10, 2010 at 12:38 am
Great information. These leaves grow very big…really bigger than the elephant ears
On August 10, 2010 at 1:01 am
I have liked the heart shaped leaves of this plant since I was a child. It’s very pretty.
On August 10, 2010 at 1:12 am
I have this plant too, behind my house. It grows really BIG in leaves. Great share here, Pam, thanks. Liked it.
On August 10, 2010 at 1:44 am
Great Share.
On August 10, 2010 at 2:50 am
Good …I like it very much
On August 10, 2010 at 3:30 am
A very good article. I can never hear the words elephant ears without smiling as they remind me of a little girl getting dressed up for her Nativity play. She came crying to me to say she had lost her elephant ears. It took me some time to realise that she had actually misplaced here angel wings.
Christine
On August 10, 2010 at 3:52 am
Lovely plants. Thank you for the pics. pretty home, Pam. I at first thought you were posting about the elephant ears a person eats at a fair. I must be hungry to have that on my mind.
On August 10, 2010 at 5:23 am
If I’m not mistaken, this is the plant we call “gabi” in the Philippines. Yes, we make delicious vegetable dishes out of them usually with coconut milk. Nothing goes to waste as all parts of the plant may be used.
On August 10, 2010 at 6:02 am
Silly me. I thought this article was going to be about the ears of an elephant. This is a beautiful plant. I can see why it is so popular in Florida. Your photos add a nice touch to the article.
On August 10, 2010 at 6:40 am
nice post! =p loved it!
On August 10, 2010 at 6:54 am
beautiful ornamental..we have plenty of it here
On August 10, 2010 at 8:24 am
same comment as Guy Hogan….I thought it’s about the ears of elephants.
Beautiful plant, I don’t know the name is this, very interesting!
On August 10, 2010 at 9:31 am
Their tubers are eaten in the Philippines. Nice photos.
On August 10, 2010 at 10:40 am
wow, they would not grow here.. but every summer at the “Fairs” we have a doughy snack called elephant ears… I thought this was going to be about them. lol they are gross but you just have to have one each summer
On August 10, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I thought too that this is about elephant ears.
Lovely plant it is.
On August 10, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I mean the elephant animal.
On August 11, 2010 at 8:49 am
interesting share!
On August 11, 2010 at 8:51 pm
I love Elephant Ears. We have lots of them around here.
On August 12, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Pam, your elephant ears are pretty. I used to grow them. they remind me of the jungle.
On August 17, 2010 at 4:55 am
I’d never heard of these before, thanks for teaching me something new.
On September 11, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Excellent article, great pictures.