A staple of the tropical garden that can be managed in containers for colder climates. For example, an elephant ear leaf that is specked with white and pink will look good near a coleus with solid purple or light green leaves. Prepare the bed for elephant ears by … At the end of the growing season, dig up the tuber. The aptly named elephant ears plant hits its full potential in the ground outside, but it can also be grown as a potted houseplant. 36-48 in. The common variety of elephant ear, Colocasia esculenta, grows from tuberous roots that are easy to propagate by division. To have a detailed look on types of Elephant Ear plants, click here Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. These fast-growing plants that will achieve their full size within two months are generally planted in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. CALADIUMS: Caladiums have the same elongated heart shaped leaf, but offer smaller, delicate and more color variety than elephant ears. Keep elephant ear plants consistently moist. Elephant ears are tropical plants that do best in circumstances that mimic their native habitat. Coleus (Solenostemon spp.) Plant them when the soil is well warmed, as befits their tropical origin. bear variously colored large leaves, but the overall key to using companion plants around elephant ears is contrast in color and leaf textures according to "The Exotic Garden.". Coleus (Solenostemon spp.) But plants of the Alocasia genus and Xanthosoma genus can also be known as elephant ears. If you choose to go this route, make sure that your garden is warm enough but that it also has some partial shade for Black Elephant Ears. How to Plant Elephant Ear Tubers: Plant elephant ear bulbs outside after all danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures remain above 70 degrees.Elephant Ears are tropical plants and cannot tolerate any frost.They only emerge when the soil is warm. Companion Plants Cacti & Succulents The Seed Exchange. Also known as the kris plant, it has glossy, upright, V-shaped, deeply lobed foliage with wavy edges and large silver-white veins. Elephant ears' species name, esculentia, is the same term that gives us the word "esculent," meaning edible. Replant them in spring when the danger of frost has passed. Pairing coleus with caladiums is particularly enjoyable as you can mimic or echo the colors in the caladium leaves in those of the coleus. There is a wide variety of leaf sizes, color, and variegation among species. It grows to six feet tall and just as wide, so planting it outdoors is your best bet. Or, green-leaved elephant ears can be made brighter by being surrounded by large numbers of flowering begonias because the petal colors and small size make great contrast. Type Plant Height Plant Spread Winter Hardy Zones Container Size Elephant Ear 36-60 in. Large Alocasia Odora (Elephant Ear) Plant Ottawa 03/02/2021 Healthy Alocasia Odora with new growths. Depending on species, elephant ears grow from tuberous roots (Colocasia spp.) Read our, The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Alocasia amazonica is a hybrid variety and almost looks the same as this plant. Begonias grown around elephant ears bring a splash of color with their flowers, especially wax and tuberous begonia types. The Black Magic Elephant Ear prefers moist soil. This makes them a good choice for wet areas where gardeners usually have trouble finding suitable plants. Add a balanced, slow release fertilizer when planting, in early spring, and late summer for best results. Colors of the foliage may be anywhere from purplish black, green or … Unlike the leaves of Alocasia which point skyward, the leaves of Colocasia droop and point toward the ground. They perform well as accent plants, but some selections grow very large. If you choose to pot your elephant ear, a large container is a good choice, a minimum of 18 inches across and just as deep. Deep green in spring and summer, the large leaves turn bronze-red in fall and winter, providing year round interest. In fact, elephant ears are an important food source in warm climates around the world. Juxtapose the foliage to amplify their differences. The natural indoor plant air cleaner. Appreciates fast draining mix- add fine fir bark and/or extra perlite. The plant comes in many color varieties from white through to pink and red and it makes a fabulous companion plant for hosta. Play with different leaf colors and patterns among elephant ear plants, regardless of their botanical identity. Their immense leaves can measure up to 2 feet across, with foliage colors ranging from lime green to almost black. In colder zones, they will perish unless the tubers are dug up and stored for the winter. Their most common use, however, is as an accent or focal point. As a native wetland plant, elephant ears like a lot of water. Toxicities of Raw Alocasia Odora. Elephant ears (Colocasia and Alocasia) are tropical plants grown for their stunning, often enormous leaves, which can be lime green, variegated or nearly black.These summer-loving plants grow from a bulb that should be planted in the spring. Upright elephant ears (Alocasia) have shiny leaves that often display colorful variegations. Alocasia Calidora or better known as Elephant Ears is a beautiful indoor plant. These plants are sometimes propagated by collecting and planting seeds from the flowers, though this is time-consuming and difficult. The dramatic coloring makes it suitable as a companion plant for plants with lighter foliage or Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, 3–8 feet tall, similar spread; smaller in colder climates. Some shade is recommended in zone 10. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, feuille de caladium image by Unclesam from, Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Designing with Summer-Flowering Bulbs, Plants in the aroid family with large shield-like leaves are often dubbed "elephant ears. Compact plants usually less than a foot tall at maturity. 23 Comments Updated February 26, 2019 +21. While these leaves can reach 3 feet long and 2 feet wide in the tropics, in colder climates they will remain smaller (but still impressive). Huge elephant ear leaves in striking dusty purple-black are big attention getters. In some climates—and when growing in containers—this means watering daily. Store the tubers for the winter, then replant the following spring (in warm climates, they can be replanted immediately). Ferns. From Kentucky born tropical plant breeder Brian Williams of Brian’s Botanicals, we bring you this new stunning, black leaved elephant ear. Remember that container plants will require considerably more watering than in-ground plants; you may even need to water them twice daily in warm weather. or a hard swollen stem structure known as a corm (Alocasis and Xanthosoma spp.). In warm zones (8 and above) the root can be left in the ground as a perennial, while in colder zones the plants are either treated as annuals, discarded at the end of the season, or dug up and stored indoors for planting the following spring. Like many large-leaved tropical plants, elephant ears are heavy feeders. Perfect for recreating the isl Some popular varieties of elephant ear include: These plants continue to produce new leaves throughout the growing season. Space plants well apart—2 feet for smaller cultivars, 4 feet for larger varieties. Bergenia 'Rotblum' (Elephant's Ears) is a clump-forming evergreen perennial boasting erect clusters of rosy-red flowers atop thick red stems in early-mid spring. See more ideas about garden containers, container plants, container gardening. Raw leaves contain needle-like calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the skin, including the mouth and throat if they are consumed. Pets that chew on the leaves may show excessive salivation and mouth irritation. I’ve yet to meet an elephant ear that didn’t grow well in containers. Elephant ears are tropical perennial plants grown for the appeal of the large leaves rather than for their flowers. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Car Companion Plant. Mature Elephant Ear plants can grow up to 8 foot tall, similarly this is around the same size of actual African Elephant Ears … Its majesty is spectacular and it will bring life anywhere you place it. are fast-growing herbaceous foliage plants with leaves that can range in color from... Begonias. Apply a water-soluble high-nitrogen fertilier every two to three weeks. As the old leaves die, remove them to keep the plant looking vibrant. Their leaves are smaller than those of elephant years so they naturally complement each other. They will be evergreen in USDA zones 10 to 11, but will likely die back to the ground in zones 8 to 9 to return in the spring. Some varieties are well suited for planting in large containers. long (37 cm). For example, if one elephant ear plant produces solid-colored green leaves, consider intermingling it with another elephant ear that grows dark purple leaves or one that is speckled and striped. In any landscape, elephant ears provide an infusion of tropical atmosphere. ‘Black Magic’: This was the first black cultivar with dusty purple-black leaves. Alocasia and colocasia, better known as elephant ears, are impressive plants that are prized for their dramatic foliage. Make sure they stay well-watered during dry spells. 13. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Amazon Elephant's Ear Plant Profile (African Mask), Five Houseplants That Will Hurt Your Pets, Tips for Storing Tender Bulbs for the Winter. Preparing and storing elephant ears bulbs for winter, in the basement, in a cold climate. Elephant ear plants can be used as background plants, ground covers, or edging, especially around ponds or along walkways or patio enclosures. All Rights Reserved. However, the leaves need to be cooked before they are consumed. David Beaulieu is a garden writer with nearly 20 years experience writing about landscaping and over 10 years experience working in nurseries. Care for them properly with frequent watering and fertilizing to watch them flourish. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Elephant Ear Size. Posted by … Again, visual contrast among leaves adds the design interest. Alocasis and Xanthosoma species of elephant ear grow from hard corm-like roots that can't be divided. Often the frilly, multicolored leaves of caladiums (Caladium spp.) May 27, 2013 - Explore Marcella Smith's board "elephant ear container " on Pinterest. Use ever-blooming begonias to echo a color in the elephant ear leaves, such as using a pink or red begonia around elephant ear leaves with speckles or veins of red and pink. are fast-growing herbaceous foliage plants with leaves that can range in color from yellow or green to purple, rust brown or burgundy-red. 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. 7-10 12"-14" Good 18"-24" Ideal ELEPHANT EAR – Colocasia Diamond Head FULL SUN, PARTIAL SHADE Possibly originally native to Malaysia and tropical parts of Central Asia, the Elephant Ear progressed rapidly to the tropical regions of South and Central America, Africa, … The dainty foliage of ferns visually contrast the large, bold-sized leaves of elephant ears well. Once they sprout, elephant ears require little tending, other than regular feeding with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. When kept indoors with proper care you can expect your plant to reach a maximum of 6 foot or more in length. Elephant ears are hardy in zones 8-10. Other elephant ears (Colocasia spp., Alocasia spp. Grow elephant ears in slightly acidic soil in partial shade. One of the most popular varieties of elephant ear plants is the Alocasia sanderiana, or "African mask," which has dark purple and green leaves with silver-white veins. Tuber-type roots should be planted with the growth nodes facing up; corm types with the pointy side up, about 5 inches deep. What Plants Go Well With Elephant Ear Plants? You can dig up the tubers to over-winter caladiums in colder zones, but if you plan to do this, do it early. Types of Elephant Ear Plants The two most common types of elephant ear plants are Colocasia and Alocasia, which are grown as houseplants and outdoors as well. There are a number of uses for elephant ears in the garden. Elephant ears are sometimes grown in large containers as patio plants, but it is important to use a potting mix with a lot of organic matter that holds moisture. Use the largest pots that are practical, both to keep in scale with the huge leaves and because large-volume containers are easier to keep moist. Reminiscent of calla lily flowers, the … The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. They can also be planted later, into early summer. Also, consider using contrasting foliage colors of ferns with elephant ears; dark leaf elephant ears surrounded by chartreuse or light green fern fronds create heightened contrast. In colder climates, you can dig up the corms before first frost and keep them in a cool (but not freezing) basement or garage, similar to the way canna bulbs and dahlia tubers are overwintered. Here you see Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Calidora’ elephant’s ear (Alocasia ‘Calidora’) with a few other containers with summer plantings. Primarily grown for its spectacular foliage, Colocasia esculenta 'Diamond Head' (Taro) is a tuberous, frost-tender perennial with long-stalked, thick and glossy, heart-shaped, chocolate, ruffled leaves, up to 15 in. Plants in the aroid family with large shield-like leaves are often dubbed "elephant ears." Elephant ear plants, or Colocasia, are tropical plants grown from tubers or from rooted plants.Elephant ears have very large heart-shaped leaves borne on 2-3 foot (.6-.9 m.) petiole or leaf stalks. 36-60 in. These plants come in a variety of colors and sizes. A general rule: if your elephant ear is a solid color, pair it with a multicolored coleus leaf variety, or vice versa. 8-10 14" Good 18'-24" Ideal MAMMOTH ELEPHANT EAR – Colocasia esculenta FULL SUN, PARTIAL SHADE Possibly originally native to Malaysia and tropical parts of Central Asia, the Elephant Ear progressed rapidly to the tropical regions of South and Central America, … The roots (known as taro root) and the leaves are both edible. Many are even well adapted to growing in … "The Exotic Garden"; Richard R. Iversen; 1999. The plant's leaves and stems contain oxalic acid, which can cause serious illness in children or pets. These plants thrive in full sun to part shade. Use ever-blooming begonias to echo a color in the elephant ear leaves, such as using a pink or red begonia around elephant ear leaves with speckles or veins of red and pink. ; Select a location in full sun or part sun with a good, rich, moist, organic soil. Posted by Cyntia February 22, 2019. are planted to embellish and complement the flower colors of plants in summer annual beds and containers. and Xanthosoma spp.) Very similar shield-shaped leaves to A. cupreaand A. clypeolata, but purple-black often with a metallic sheen and on the same plane as the petioles and aiming up on adult plants. The leaves of caladiums are somewhat heart shaped, much like an elephant ear and vibrantly colored. The most commonly grown plant Colocasia esculenta, also known as taro. While they are in storage, make sure the corms neither rot nor totally dry out. 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