Elephant ear plants are famous for their tremendous heart - shaped and arrowhead leaves . Elephant ear are species of perennial tropic plant that thrive in ardent , humid condition , growing in moist soil . The bombastic strike triangular leave of absence sum up a tropical contact to your summer garden or home ’s interior . Elephant ear flora leaves grow at the remnant of heavyset fore from bulb or tubers in the ground or muckle .
“ Elephant capitulum ” is the uncouth name for leafy aroid plants in the generaAlocasia , Colocasia , Caladium , andXanthosomain the familyAraceae . Apart from arise vast tropic leaves , elephant ears also produce flowers that look like arum lily lily flowers . However , it ’s rare for elephant capitulum houseplants to bloom indoors .
Elephant ear plants are native to tropical countries . Most varieties of elephant pinna thrive outdoors in zones 9 through 11 . A fewColocasiaandAlocasiaspecies are cold dauntless to zona 7 . However , in ecumenical , elephant spike do n’t raise in the frigidity and ca n’t tolerate frost .
If you live in temperate climates , you may grow elephant spike in your garden as annuals . Or you may apprehend up elephant ear bulb and stack away them in a wry , cool stead indoors , ready for imbed in give . Of course , these leafy tropic plants grow well in containers and are first-class as patio , deck , porch , or backyard potted plants .
This article is a template to the various types of elephant spike plants you’re able to grow in your garden or indoors . You will also get helpful tips on grow these rich lush tropical plants .
Elephant Ear Plant Care
To care for elephant spike plant , grow the ‘ bulbs ’ in well - drain land that is kept moist . Elephant ears — growing indoors or out of doors — need plenty of sunlight , humidness , and water to thrive . Fertilize every two weeks during the get season . Indoors , grow pot elephant ear plant in indirect sunshine . alfresco , plant life elephant ears in full to partial sun .
Common Types of Elephant Ears (Alocasia, Colocasia, Caladium,andXanthosoma)
Elephant ear plant type belong to four tropical plant genera in the familyAraceae . These aroid plant share some characteristics with their outstanding bosom - shaped or arrowhead foliage that acquire from corm or tuber .
Here is a brief overview of the four main specie of elephant ear plants .
Alocasia
Alocasiaplants are popular houseplant due to their dark green waxy will with strike creamy - white prominent mineral vein . Also called the African mask plant life or Kris plant , Alocasiaplants spring up between 2 and 6 ft . ( 0.6 – 1.8 m ) . Alocasia leaves standard between 8 ” and 35 ” ( 20 – 90 cm ) long .
related to reading : How to care forAlocasiaplants .
Colocasia
Colocasiaplants are also call Taro plant life , and they have downward - pointing overweight folio that can be lush unripened , scarlet , or purple - black . The large elephant ear leaves are enormous and grow between 8 ” and 5 ft . ( 20 centimeter – 1.5 m ) long . After cooking , taro tubers of some species are edible and are a vernacular food in Asia .
Caladium
Caladiumplantshave colorful centre - shaped leaves with spectacular color combination such as red , green , cream , white , pinkish , and silvery - green . LikeAlocasiaplants , Caladiumelephant ear leaves typically have spectacular , brilliantly - colored veins . Caladiumplants produce between 6 ” and 3 ft . ( 15 – 90 cm ) . Shade - lovingCaladiumplants are also called ‘ marrow of Jesus ’ and ‘ Angel Wings . ’
Xanthosoma
Xanthosomaplants are flower elephant ear plant life with characteristic pointed arrowhead - shaped ( sagittate ) leave . Xanthosomaisn’t usually grown in gardens or containers .
According to theUniversity of Wisconsin - Madison , the leaves of Elephant ear plants ( Colocasia , Alocasia , andXanthosoma)are eatable but they must be cook first . The farewell bear calcium oxalate crystal that cause severe skin irritation and they must be manipulate first .
harmonize to theASPCA , Elephant ears that belong to to theCaladiumgenus are vicious to frankfurter , cat , and sawhorse and can causeoral aggravation due to their insoluble Ca oxalate .
Elephant Ear Flowers
Elephant ear flower – shut down up pictures of elephant ear Alocasia macrorrhizos flower ( left ) and elephant ear Colocasia esculenta flower ( right )
Elephant ear works are mintage of bloom plants that producearoid - character efflorescence . Elephant ear flower commonly have a whitened or green spadix surrounded by a spathe leaf . Elephant ears rarely bloom indoors , and flowers are uncommon when growing outdoors . The small flush generally are unnoticeable under the huge leafy foliation .
Elephant Ear Bulbs
Elephant ear bulbs : closeup picture of caladium tubers
Elephant ear plants rise from tubers or corms that mass generally cite to as bulbs . In tropical mood , the elephant ear plant electric light grow throughout the class in zones 9 through 11 . In temperate climates , the bulbs wo n’t live on wintertime outdoors . So , it ’s essential to overwinter elephant ear bulbs indoors or turn them as potted houseplants .
Related recitation : How to deal for elephant ear plants .
Elephant Ear Leaves
Elephant ear leaves : closeup pictures of Alocasia elephant ear leaves that are heart or pointer shaped with prominent vena
Elephant ear plant leaves are the most attractive feature of these stunningtropical leafage plant with big leave . Elephant ear leaves are sagittate - influence that look like pointed hearts or arrowhead . The smooth , waxy leafage in the main have spectacular veins in colors contrasting with the exuberant foliage .
reckon on the specie , elephant ear leaves manoeuver either upwards or downward . Typically , AlocasiaandXanthosomaleaves steer upward or outward . Species ofColocasiaandCaladiumhave showy leaves that tip to the ground .
The leaves of elephant auricle can have various colour such as green , pitch-dark , pink , red , cream , and purpleness .
Elephant ear leaves : closeup pictures of Caladium elephant ear leaves that amount in a wide array of colors such as crimson , pink , unripened and cream
It does n’t matter which type of elephant ear plant you arise . The magnificent arrow- or marrow - shaped leaves will make your backyard or interiors look like a tropical landscape painting .
Types of Elephant Ear Plants (With Pictures)
Let ’s look in more detail at some stunning model of large - flick tropical plant in the generaAlocasia , Colocasia , Caladium , andXanthosoma .
Amazonian Elephant Ear (Alocasia x amazonica)
Alocasia amazonica ( Amazonian Elephant Ear ) is a popular houseplant with dark green arrowhead shaped leaves with pale veins
TheAmazonian elephant ear plantis one of the most pop cosmetic houseplant . The prominent glossy arrowhead leaves are dark unripened with prominent creamy - clean rib . The relatively narrow pointed lush unripe leaf have wavy boundary to add to the industrial plant ’s tropic appeal . The sagittate leaves grow up to 2 foot . ( 0.6 m ) long .
This elephant pinna plant life is also called the African mask plant or Kris plant .
Grow African mask industrial plant in collateral bright lightsome indoors . Keep the grime moist without being too soggy . When the temperature is at least 65 ° F ( 18 ° degree Celsius ) outdoors , you’re able to originate Amazonian elephant ears in the ground in your garden .
Compact Amazonian Elephant Ear (Alocasia x amazonica‘Polly’)
‘ Polly ’ cultivar ( Compact Amazonian Elephant Ear ) is a small version of the largeAlocasia amazonicaplant
TheAmazonian ‘ Polly ’ cultivar(compact Amazonian elephant ear ) look like a small , thick adaptation of the largeAlocasia amazonicaspecies plant . The popular ‘ Polly ’ elephant auricle industrial plant has waxy green leaves with whitish veins like the larger Amazonian elephant ears . This small tropic houseplant only grows up to 2 foot . ( 60 cm ) tall .
To handle for this stocky elephant ears plant , give it plenty of warmth , humidness , and moisture . Like the big Amazonian elephant capitulum , the ‘ Polly ’ cultivar grows in indirect light source and grow well in fond subtlety .
Mammoth Elephant Ear (Alocasia macrorrhiza)
The mammoth elephant ear Alocasia macrorrhiza plant life has very gravid heavyset green leaves
The Mammoth Elephant Ear has gigantic leaves that grow up to 6 ft . ( 1.8 m ) long and 4 ft . ( 1.2 m ) broad . The thick ruffled green folio grow on thick stalk that come out from the declamatory bulb . Like mostAlocasiaplants , the mammoth elephant ear point upward and give your garden a tropic look .
Also called the Giant Taro or Upright Elephant Ear , the glorious plant grows in USDA zones 9 through 12 . you could also rise the evergreen perennial industrial plant as an annual in colder climates if you winterise the bulbs from free fall until spring .
Calidora Upright Elephant Ear (Alocaisa‘Calidora’)
Elephant ear Alocasia ‘ Calidora ’ has great upright piano blackguard leaves
The good elephant capitulum ( Alocasia‘Calidora ’ ) has prodigious leaves that can be marvellous than a person . The uprightAlocasialeaves are polish up arrow - shaped that grow up to 6 foot . ( 1.8 m ) tall . The unripe leave-taking have a costate texture . Grow Calidora elephant ears in zones 10 through 12 . This tropic flora raise in full Sunday to almost unadulterated shade .
Alocasia Zebrina
Alocasia zebrina is illustrious for its unusual patterned stubble which have a ‘ zebra ’ or ‘ Panthera pardus ’ face
TheAlocasia zebrinais a heavyset elephant ear houseplant with unusual design on thick folio stem . Like all elephant pinna plants , theAlocasia zebrinaspecies has arrowhead leave-taking . The deep , waxy fleeceable leaves have clean , dim vein marking . The attractive feature of speech of theAlocasia zebrinais its blot stems that take care like leopard skin .
This unusual houseplant is also called theAlocasiaLeopard orAlocasia zebrinaTiger . The fast - grow elephant spike plant thrives in affectionate , humid conditions , and arise in moist potting soil .
Alocasia Frydek (Alocasia micholitziana‘Frydek’)
To care decently for Alocasia Frydek plant , ensure it gets enough indirect sunlight
TheAlocasiaFrydekis an elephant ear plant which is also known as the Green Velvet plant due to its soft , green smooth velvety foliage . Like the AmazonianAlocasia , the Frydek variety has morose green leaves contrast with the protruding white vein that form spiked design , but the leaves are velvety and not glossy . As a houseplant , the Green VelvetAlocasiagrows between 2 and 3 foot . ( 0.6 – 1 m ) .
Taro (Colocasia esculenta)
Colocasia esculenta ( taro root plant life ) has large fleeceable farewell that give exotic look to the garden
The Taro flora ( Colocasia esculenta ) has huge greenish arrowhead leaves growing at the end of foresightful arch chaff . eddo plant ’s leaves droop down and give gay gardens a tropical feeling . Colocasia esculentais an soft - to - rise tropic flora to add spectacular exotic leafage to gardens . Taro plants develop between 3 and 6 foot . ( 1 – 1.8 m ) tall .
taro plant plants thrive in USDA zones 8 through 12 . Plant the elephant ear electric-light bulb in the priming in fond sunlight and urine oftentimes during the summer .
Giant Elephant Ear (Colocasia gigantea‘Thailand Giant’)
Giant elephant capitulum is a very declamatory plant that ask a lot of space in the garden
As its name suggests , the gargantuan elephant earColocasia giganteahas enormous , rounded heart - shaped leaf . The bluish - unripe leaves grow between 4 and 6 ft . ( 1.2 – 1.8 m ) long and up to 5 ft . ( 1.5 m ) wide . The impressive decorative foliage plant make a tropical focal point in any large garden .
you’re able to grow Giant Elephant Ear plant in large containers orwater gardens . The tuberous bulbs grow well in soggy condition . However , it would be best if you had plenty of space to grow the ‘ Thailand Giant’Colocasiabecause the flora can grow up to 10 ft . ( 3 m ) tall and wide .
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Black Magic’
Elephant ear Colocasia Esculenta ‘ Black Magic ’ has colored purple - Shirley Temple arrowhead shaped leaf
The elephant ear ‘ dim Magic ’ has sag purple - total darkness leaves . The stunning dark purple leaves can sometimes search velvety black . The smooth empurpled elephant ear leaves arise up to 2 foot . ( 0.6 m ) long and have the classic arrowhead shape . The glowering over-embellished Taro flora creates a stunning focal compass point in tropical gardens .
PlantColocasia esculenta‘Black Magic ’ in fond sun and moist filth . These moisture - loving purple foliation plant life can grow in pond and streams or large containers .
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Illustris’
Colocasia esculenta ‘ Illustris ’ has dark large leaves with fleeceable veins
TheColocasia esculenta‘Illustris ’ has blackish - purpleness elephant ear leaves growing at the oddment of long arching stalk . The heart - shaped dour elephant capitulum leaves have contrasting shining gullible veins . The dramatic mammoth elephant ear leaf grow up to 3 foot . ( 1 m ) long . Like all elephant auricle plants , the ‘ Illustris’Colocasiaoccasionally flower with spathe flowers outdoors .
Colocasia plants grow in USDA zones 8 through 11 . you may also grow the tremendous plant in a prominent container as an alien houseplant indoors during insensate wintertime .
Xanthosoma Sagittifolium (Elephant Ears)
Elephant ear Xanthosoma sagittifolium is a grandiloquent flora with large wrinkled leaves
The elephant earXanthosoma sagittifoliumis a fast - growing elephant ear plant with large leaves that stand up to between 6 and 9 foot . ( 2 – 2.7 m ) tall . The massive broad arrowhead elephant ear leaves have a distinct wrinkled appearance and wavy edges . The elephant ear leaves grow on stiff stalks and are 4 foot . ( 1.2 m ) long and 3 ft . ( 1 m ) full .
Xanthosoma sagittifoliumis in the main cultivated for its edible tuberous ascendent . The tropic herbaceous works grows along waterways , wetlands , and swamps .
Elephant EarsXanthosoma‘Lime Zinger’
Xanthosoma ‘ Lime Zinger ’ add bright color to the garden
Xanthosoma‘Lime Zinger ’ has bright gullible arrowhead elephant ear impart with xanthous nervure . The lime - unripe elephant ear leaves grow around 1.5 foot . ( 0.5 m ) long , and the clumping foliage does n’t farm more than 4 ft . ( 1.2 m ) magniloquent . This elephant auricle flora grow adept in fond sun to keep the colour of leaves vibrant .
you may growXanthosoma‘Lime Zinger ’ in container as a terrace or deck plant . In temperate climates , you could winter the tropical plant indoors .
Angel Wings (Caladium‘Candidum’)
Caladium ‘ Candidum ’ has ornamental and unusual white and green patterned leaves
The elephant ears Angel Wings ‘ Candidum ’ has spectacular clean arrowhead - shaped leaves with a internet of dark light-green patterns . The highly cosmetic elephant capitulum leaf contrast nicely with the green leaf of other garden plants . This tropical jungleCaladiumplant grows well in full shade and will help oneself lighten up drear space .
Caladium elephant ear are not tolerant of freeze . you may grow them in the ground in USDA zone 9 through 12 . In colder climate , acquire the white leafy plants in containers . Alternatively , you may comprehend up the bulbs in the spill after the plant go back .
Caladium ‘Candidum Junior’
Also called the Fancy - Leafed Caladium , this compact cultivar is a smaller version of the Angel Wings flora . This tropical species with lightly - colored foliage has spunk - form white and green leave-taking . TheCaladium‘Candidum Junior ’ is a spook - loving elephant ear plant cultivar . The elephant ears plant raise 1 foot . ( 0.3 m ) tall and wide .
Due to its low - develop nature and sag leave-taking , Caladium‘Candidum Junior ’ is an idealground cover charge plant for shadein frost - barren gardens .
Caladium Bicolor (Caladium x hortulanum)
Caladium bicolorelephant spike plants have some of the most sensational foliage on any plant . The multi - colored leave onCaladium bicolorvarieties can have rainbow coloring material of pink , red , unripened , and white . Some bicolor elephant ear leaves have vein patterns in striking line to the leafage colors .
VariegatedCaladium bicolorleaves grow between 7 ” and 17 ” ( 17 – 43 atomic number 96 ) foresighted and up to 10 ” ( 25 cm ) wide . develop these thirsty plant life along shaded perimeter , as a specimen flora , or as terra firma cover .
There are many beautifulCaladium bicolorcultivars , each with fascinating colorful leaf . Here are a few examples of bicolor elephant ear variety that grow in tropic garden or beautiful houseplant :
Caladium ‘White Queen’
Caladium ‘ White Queen ’ has stunning red , cream and unripened leaves
TheCaladium‘White Queen ’ cultivar has silvery - fleeceable arrowhead elephant ear leave behind with scarlet - red veins that seem to bleed into the leaves . New leaf growth on this elephant spike salmagundi is a dusty pink colour before get on into contrasting ashen and carmine colors . Caladium‘White Queen ’ grows up to 2 foot . ( 0.6 m ) eminent and wide .
spring up the ‘ livid Queen’Caladiumas ahouseplant in shaded areasif you live in originate zones lower than 9 .
Caladium ‘Red Flash’
Caladium ‘ Red Flash ’ has ornamental dark-green leaves with red veins and pink spots
The fancy - leafedCaladium‘Red Flash ’ has sinister green elephant ear leaves with bright ruby-red veins and pink spot . The leaves on this elephant ear works seem like carmine paint has been splashed on lush green leave of absence . From all theCaladiumvarieties , this works is comparatively patient of of the sun and grows well in partial tone .
Caladium ‘Carolyn Whorton’
Caladium ‘ Carolyn Whorton ’ has beautiful green and pinkish leaves with red veins
The Angel WingsCaladium‘Carolyn Whorton ’ has strike mettle - form pink leafage , unripened sharpness , and conspicuous red veins . The graphic color on this elephant ears cultivar make for a colourful focal point in any room . The shade - lovingCaladiumgrows in the earth in warm climates to clear up up mete and flower beds .
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