Plant your Elephant Ear tubers 5 in. Elephant ear plants are fairly easy to grow once they’re established. As they come from tropical and subtropical regions, Elephant Ears are heat-loving plants. As soon as temperatures drop below 40°F (4°C), lift the tubers for winter storage. But if you want to grow elephant ears outside in a cold climate, it can be treated as an annual plant. Often grown for their dramatic foliage reminiscent of elephant ears, Colocasia and Alocasia are terrific tender perennials that provide a strong ornamental interest and quickly give a touch of the tropics in gardens or containers. Cover the tuber with soil and water as needed. Leave a proper space between them since elephant ears need room to grow. The types with dark-colored variegations prefer sunny positions. Elephant Ears can be planted from spring (after all danger of frost has passed) through early summer. Amend native soils as needed to increase their organic matter with compost, manure, ground bark, or similar material. In zones 10 through 11, the plants are nearly evergreen. Small and medium sized Elephant Ears should be spaced 18-24 in. Many problems are water-related. While most can be grown in partial shade, the darker colored varieties are best grown in full sun. Keep plantings mulched to a depth of 2 in. deep (12 cm). Small and medium sized Elephant Ears should be spaced 18-24 in. However, the difference is mainly botanical, while their growing requirements are pretty much the same. This tapestry garden weaves together succulents and other... Use our interactive toolsto design your dream garden. In cold climates, these plants are usually grown as houseplants. Ideas with Colocasia - Taro, A Desirable Summer Border Idea with Grasses, Dahlias and Amaranth, A Spectacular Summer Planting Idea with Dahlia, Zinnia, Chinese Aster and Ammi visnaga, A Stunning Plant Combination Idea with Dahlia and Sage, Alocasia - Elephant Ears, Colocasia - Taro, Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Splendid Elephant Ears. In zone 8-9, Elephant Ears generally survive winter if left in the ground. To use the website as intended please  In cooler climates (zones 3-7), the tubers are planted in the spring, after the danger of frost has passed, and usually treated as annuals. Your Source For Gardening Tips and Tricks. Elephant Ears perform best in sun or part shade. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Elephant Tree is quite a strong plant, and because it is grown in rather harsh conditions, it is a relatively adaptable species. Check these Great Plant Combination Bursera microphylla, known by the common name elephant tree in English or 'torote' in Spanish, is a tree in genus Bursera.It grows into a distinctive sculptural form, with a thickened, water-storing or caudiciform trunk. The shape of their leaves is considered to be cordate, or heart-shaped. To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of our site. Alocasia’s tubers are smaller and plain. If you live in a colder area and you want to save your rhizomes for next spring, you may dig them up before the first frost and store them over winter before replanting them next spring. These cookies do not store any personal information. These plants have large leaves that visually resemble elephant’s ears, hence the name. Curled or wilted leaves – It could be a sign of water deficiency. Brush off excess soil from the tubers, store them in dry peat moss or wood shavings. If you’re planting elephant ear bulbs (tubers) directly into a garden bed, do that after all danger of frost has passed. There is a slight difference in water requirements within elephant ear types. in beds (5 cm), 1 in. Elephant Ear Plants are robust tropical plants that make a wonderful garden display in warm climates, or attractive and decorative houseplants in cold climates. The description of these plants We use cookies on this website, you can read about them here. All elephant plants are tropical plants native to rainforests of South America, Central America, subtropical Asia, southeastern Asia, and Eastern Australia, but they are widely naturalized and cultivated in many other tropical and subtropical regions. It is found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The most popular types of elephant ears are certainly Colocasia esculenta, also known as ‘Taro, and Colocasia Gigantea, known as giant elephant ear or Indian Taro. Other species like less water. Choose tubers that are large, firm, and plump. Colocasia naturally grows in wetlands, so it prefers moist soil and a lot of water. Place in a warm, dark, dry place for the winter, no higher than 50-60°F (10-15°C). Plant the bulbs 5 inches (12 cm) deep with a pointy side facing up. Elephant ears don’t like sitting in the water, but they are most likely to be affected by drought. Depending on the climate in your region, you can successfully grow elephant ear plant indoors or outdoors. The main difference between Alocasia and Colocasia is that Alocasia plants have matte leaves pointing up, while Colocasia has more rounded and glossy leaves pointing down. Provide a sheltered location to protect the decorative leaves from strong winds. Dig them up before the first frost, as soon as the temperature drops below 40ºF (4ºC). Elephant Ears needs room to grow. Caladiums, on the other hand, can have both types of petiole attachment. Store them in dark, but warm and dry place, covered in wood cuttings or dry peat moss. Easy to grow, they stand proud and bold provided some basic rules are respected. Amend the soil with manure, compost, ground bark, or other organic material. Since all types of elephant ear plants are similar and closely related, sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between them. Brown leaf edges – The plant is probably getting to much sun. In warm climates, elephant plants can be grown outdoors year-round. However, if you want to save your bulbs for next spring, you may dig them up before the first frost and store them over winter before replanting them next spring. Bursera microphylla is a North American species of tree in the frankincense family in the soapwood order. Another highly renowned variety, and probably the easiest to buy, is African mask plant or Amazon Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia amazonica) with deep green leaves and white veins. Impossibly exotic, their architectural shapes make them perfect for planting as focal plants or massed to create a tropical effect. Xanthosoma plants are mainly solid green with less variegation, while Caladiums come in a wider range of colors, often with an interesting variegation or contrasting veins. Pale leaves – This may indicate a lack of nutrients. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. with Colocasia - Taro, Want Garden Inspiration? ‘Black Magic’ Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’) is one of the most spectacular varieties prized for its dark purple, almost black leaves. Join now and start creating your dream garden! in pots (2.5 cm). Mulch to keep down weeds and conserve soil moisture. Plant taxonomy classifies the most widely known elephant ear plants, or "taro," as Colocasia esculenta.But plants of the Alocasia genus and of the Xanthosoma genus can go by the same common name as well. They are winter-hardy only in the 8-11 hardiness zone. The older leaves that gradually die off can be removed to keep the plants looking neat and tidy. Most Elephant Ears are winter hardy in zones 8-11, so in these warm climates the tubers can be left right in the ground. You can mulch the soil, to maintain soil moisture and keep the weeds down. Provide consistent moisture during the growing season and do not allow the soil to dry out. Planting distance varies with the size of your Elephant Ear plants. This is a succulent and the watering care for this plant is just like other succulents and does not tolerate excess watering and is more susceptible to root rot when over watered, which is one of the major problem with the Elephant bush plant. Some Xanthosoma varieties resemble unrelated Coleus. It does not need an enormous amount of water, but during the growing season, it can enjoy quite a lot of water. or 15 cm), and can be added to water gardens. In this case, when the season is over, save the bulbs for the next season. Give them bright, indirect light and make sure the soil remains consistently moist. Keep a regular watering schedule, never letting the soil to be dry. apart (45-60 cm), tall Elephant Ear varieties (over 5 ft. or 150 cm) about 3-4 ft. apart (90-120 cm). They cause small, circular lesions that may turn yellow or purple, causing an infected leaf to collapse. Cookies, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Great Plant Combination Ideas Depending on the climate in your region, you can successfully grow elephant ear plant indoors or outdoors. Planting distance varies with the size of your Elephant Ear plants. Take a look at this useful guide on how to care for elephant ear plants. Mini jade is an attractive succulent shrub or small tree, elephant feed plant can reach up to 2-4 in height, and in some circumstances, it can grow into a huge 10-20 tall where it is a favourite food for elephants hence, called elephant’s food. deep (12 cm). height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. I would suggest that you should see that the top layer, that is the top 3 cm of the soil should be totally dry when you water the plant. The petiole in Alocasia and Xanthosoma plants is attached at leaf notch, while Colocasia’s petiole is attached bellow leaf notch. Alocasia (Upright Elephant Ears) can be brought indoors and grown as houseplants. In warm climates, elephant plants can be grown outdoors year-round. No matter what climate you live in, growing these beautiful large-leaved plants is quite easy. The soil should be warm – at least 65ºF (18ºC). You can also let water sit for a few days before watering your elephant ear plants. NOTE: elephant bush succulent can grow to a few feet tall indoors. Set the Elephant Ear tuber with the pointy side facing up. You can plant them from spring to summer. While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that apart (45-60 cm), tall Elephant Ear varieties (over …