Arrow Leaf Elephant's Ear (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) in the Elephant Ears (Xanthosoma) Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences:	Wet Wet Mesic Mesic
Soil pH Preferences:	Strongly acid (5.1 – 5.5) Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0) Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 11
Plant Height:	4-9 feet
Plant Spread:	Spreads by rhizomes and fragmentation forming dense colonies.
Leaves:	Evergreen Other: Arrow shaped, light green with long petioles and wavy margins, 3 to 6 feet in length and 3 to 4 feet wide.
Flowers:	Showy Other: Rarely flowers.
Flower Color:	Green Other: Greenish-white spathe surrounding a white spadix.
Flower Time:	Summer
Underground structures:	Rhizome
Uses:	Suitable as Annual
Resistances:	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 seeds from berry which contains chemicals that inhibit germination.
Propagation: Other methods:	Offsets
Pollinators:	Beetles
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Common names

Arrow Leaf Elephant's Ear
Elephant Ear
Golden Yautia

Botanical names

Accepted: Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Synonym: Xanthosoma roseum
Synonym: Xanthosoma mafaffa var. blandum
Synonym: Xanthosoma mafaffa
Synonym: Xanthosoma aureum
Synonym: Xanthosoma blandum
Synonym: Xanthosoma violaceum
Synonym: Xanthosoma atrovirens
Synonym: Xanthosoma atrovirens var. appendiculatum
Synonym: Xanthosoma nigrum
Synonym: Xanthosoma jacquinii
Synonym: Xanthosoma appendiculatum
Synonym: Xanthosoma monstruosum
Synonym: Xanthosoma panduriforme
Synonym: Xanthosoma atrovirens var. panduriforme

Also sold as:

Xanthosoma mafaffa 'Aurea'
'Golden Delicious'
'Chartreuse Giant'
'Lime Zinger'
Xanthosoma albomarginata

Photo Gallery

Uploaded by Bubbles

Location: Merritt Island, Florida USA Zone 9b
Date: 2022-07-08
The emerging leaves are a glowing yellow/green

Uploaded by MySecretIslandGarden

Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2016-11-12
Survived acorn shower!

Uploaded by Bubbles

Uploaded by hlutzow

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by sulurph

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-05-01

Uploaded by plantladylin

Date: 2006-04-04
Photo courtesy Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc. www.terranovanurseries.

Uploaded by NJBob

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by hlutzow

Location: z6a MA, my garden
Date: 2014-09-27

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: all photos from my garden
Date: 2015-06-15

Uploaded by poisondartfrog

Location: SW florida
Date: Aug 2016
Variegated Xanthosoma Sagittofolia

Uploaded by JohnsK9

Location: My backyard, Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-09-02

Uploaded by plantladylin

Uploaded by DdeTex

Location: z6a MA, my garden
Date: 2012-09-01

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-11-05

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by dave

Location: Reynolda Gardens, Winston-Salem NC
Date: 2015-08-21
'Lime Zinger'

Uploaded by critterologist

Uploaded by hlutzow

Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-03
Black Ruffles in the foreground

Uploaded by OldGardener

Uploaded by Bubbles

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: November 7, 2011
A couple of "pups" with runners that I pulled up today

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: June 2, 2011

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 19, 2011
View of reverse side of leaf, petiole attaches directly to base o

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: z6a, Smith College Botanical Garden
Date: 2012-10-14
Wild beautful leaf distortion. Grown potted in pool.

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: Atlantic Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Paraty, SE Brazil
Date: 2017-01-28

Uploaded by bonitin

photo credit: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India

Uploaded by robertduval14

Uploaded by Bubbles

Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-04

Uploaded by OldGardener

Uploaded by Bubbles

Location: Western Washington
Date: 2014-07-13

Uploaded by springcolor

Uploaded by Swayback

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: March 19, 2011

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 19, 2011

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: October 19, 2011
Reverse side of leaf

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: z6a, Smith College Botanical Garden
Date: 2012-10-14
Immature leaves. Note collecting vein running along edge of leaf.

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: z6a, Smith College Botanical Garden
Date: 2012-10-14
Petiole, veins and peduncles are always dark violet with a blue w

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: z6a, Smith College Botanical Garden
Date: 2012-10-14
Maturing leaf back

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: z6a, Smith College Botanical Garden
Date: 2012-10-14
Showing collecting vein running along edge of leaf.

Uploaded by eclayne

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-25

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: My yard, Florida
Date: 2019-07-18

Uploaded by Gina1960

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-10-11

Uploaded by plantladylin

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Oct 19, 2011 5:30 PM concerning plant:

Arrowleaf Elephant ear is a herbaceous perennial native to tropical South America. It has large fleshy underground tubers that are round to elongate in shape. The plant can attain heights to 8 feet, with large light green leaves that sometimes grow to six feet in length. Xanthosoma sagittifolium is highly variable in leaf shape and size. This plant needs protection from high winds to keep the fragile leaves from becoming shredded.

Xanthosoma sagittifolium is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as a Category II non-native invasive.

Reply to this comment
Posted by sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on Mar 18, 2019 5:59 AM concerning plant:

I purchased this as an edible root 'yautia' from a grocery store. My googling says it is this plant. I sprouted and grew it. Native to lowland tropical South America, I expect it likes plenty of water. Like other elephant ear types, the spider mites like it. By the second year, it got over 3 feet tall. If you re patient and like trying things, this is a cheap way to get an elephant ear.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
Lalambchop1	On September 28, 2017	Obtained plant Gift from Elaine Tyler at MC Fall Regional.
MySecretIslandGarden	On July 10, 2022	Transplanted Transplanted to garden.

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Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Nice combination. by eclayne	Jun 16, 2015 3:51 PM	4

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Elephant Ears (Xanthosoma) Arrow Leaf Elephant's Ear (Xanthosoma sagittifolium)

Elephant Ears (Xanthosoma)

Arrow Leaf Elephant's Ear (Xanthosoma sagittifolium)