Data specific to Elephant Ears (Colocasia) (Edit)
Plant habit: |
Running
|
Plant height: |
Tall (>40 inches)
|
Leaf base: |
Peltate
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Leaf form: |
Flat
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Leaf surface (top of leaf): |
Glossy
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Leaf color (top of leaf): |
Deep green
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Leaf main veins color (top of leaf): |
Purple
|
Petiole junction color (top of leaf): |
Purple
|
Petiole color: |
Purple
Blackish
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General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: |
Herb/Forb
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Life cycle: |
Perennial
|
Sun Requirements: |
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
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Water Preferences: |
Wet Mesic
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Plant Height: |
4 to 8 feet (1.2-2.4m) |
Plant Spread: |
4 to 5 feet (1.2-1.5m) |
Leaves: |
Unusual foliage color
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Flowers: |
Showy
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Flower Time: |
Other: Seasonal
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Underground structures: |
Tuber
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Suitable Locations: |
Bog gardening
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Uses: |
Water gardens
Will Naturalize
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Resistances: |
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Humidity tolerant
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Toxicity: |
Other: All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus. Toxic to cats and dogs.
|
Propagation: Seeds: |
Other info: Remove seed from berry which contains chemicals that inhibit germination.
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Propagation: Other methods: |
Division
Stolons and runners
Offsets
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Containers: |
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
|
Miscellaneous: |
Goes Dormant
|
- Black Stem Elephant Ear
- Black Taro
- Violet-Stemmed Taro
- Elephant's Ear
- Accepted: Colocasia fontanesii
- Synonym: Colocasia antiquorum var. fontanesii
- Synonym: Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum
- Synonym: Colocasia esculenta var. fontanesii
- Colocasia antiquorum 'Fontanesii'
- 'Black Stem'
- Alocasia Nigrescens
Posted by
JRsbugs (Near Lincoln UK) on Dec 17, 2011 8:59 AM concerning plant:
I have tried more than one Colocasia including 'Illustris' and 'Black Magic', this is the only one remaining alive. Illustris grew well from a tiny tissue culture seedling to make a large tuber but with two cold summers and going dormant over winter it gave up the ghost when there was not enough warmth for it to regrow in spring, these conditions do not affect 'Fontanesii' the same. In the UK it is advisable to keep them in a pot and bring inside over winter, this one will keep growing a little even over winter inside at temperatures around 16C give or take a little so the problem of bringing it into growth again does not exist. I think it prefers to be outside in summer, this year I kept it in a greenhouse but it didn't thrive, so natural rain water might encourage good growth as it brings down nitrogen although 2011 in the UK was exceptionally rain free. I grow it in a mix of gritty 'river soil' and lots of leafy compost which most bulbs thrive in. Runners are sent out from the main tuber and if they have room will make new tubers, I now have three in a larger pot than it was in originally, the first time it made a runner the pot wasn't wide enough for it to take root so I lost the advantage of having the plant make a new tuber.
Posted by
eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Aug 22, 2014 9:12 AM concerning plant:
Will grow happily in full sun to full shade here but performs better in full sun with constantly wet soil. C. fontanesii is a "Runner," sending out many stolons, so it's easy to increase your stock. Eventually you'll see a Flag Leaf appear and shortly thereafter your first inflorescence. This year I've had 4 in one floral sympodium, to date! These regularly reach 5 to 6 feet in height.
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