Elephant Ears
Country of Origin: USA
Hybridizer or Originator: Brian Paul Williams

Data specific to Elephant Ears (Colocasia) (Edit)
Plant habit: Running
Plant height: Tall (>40 inches)
Leaf base: Peltate
Leaf form: Flat
Leaf surface (top of leaf): Dull (Matte)
Leaf color (top of leaf): Blackish
Leaf main veins color (top of leaf): Blackish
Green
Petiole junction color (top of leaf): Green
Petiole color: Green

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 7b -15 °C (5 °F) to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
Plant Height: 3 to 5 feet (.9-1.5 m)
Plant Spread: 3 to 4 feet (.9-1.2 m)
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Variegated
Flower Time: Other: Seasonal
Underground structures: Tuber
Uses: Will Naturalize
Eating Methods: Cooked
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Humidity tolerant
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.
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Stolons and runners
Offsets
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Miscellaneous: Goes Dormant
Parentage: Sport of: Illustris

Image
Common names
  • Imperial Taro
  • Elephant's Ear
  • Taro
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Colocasia esculenta
  • Synonym: Colocasia esculenta var. illustris
  • Synonym: Colocasia antiquorum var. illustris

Photo Gallery
Photo by Traijin
Location: Mooresville, NC
Date: 2020-07-06
Stunning and unique foliage.
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2015-06-15
Location: z6a MA, my garden
Date: 2014-09-08
Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2021-07-21
Location: Mercer Botanical Garden  Houston, Tx
Date: 2014-05-19
Location: Hood, Alabama 
Date: 2023-06-02
Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2021-07-27
Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-07-13
Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-08-08
So dramatic.The leaves are darker the more sun it gets
Photo by Seray
Location: Swayback's Kentucky Jungle
Unusual leaf, they randomly do this...
Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2019-07-26
Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-07-21
Location: Swayback's Kentucky Jungle
Overhead
Location: Mercer Botanical Garden  Houston, Tx
Date: 2014-05-19
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Apr 19, 2013 7:45 AM concerning plant:
    This is a darker form of Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') selected because it is said to retain the consistent dark leaf lamina color. With a matte leaf surface, coloration varies from black with grey veins and a green center spot (piko) to black with green veins.

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