People who like tropical plants often ask for ID's for 'elephant ears' that they see or buy unidentified. I offer this as a way to decide what you have. Its not foolproof (where Alocasias are concerned) but its a good way to start.
There are many different kinds of Elephant Ears. Its a generic term for plants in the aroid group that have leaves resembling the ear of an elephant. There are several different genuses.....Caladiums are EE's. Arums are EE's. But the most commonly grown EE's fall into 3 genuses...Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma.
Distinguishing between the 3 is pretty straightforward (in most cases). It all has to do with the sinus (the 'V' at the top of the leaf that separates the auricles...the 'ears') and the way the petiole attaches to the leaf.
Alocasias almost always point UP. They petiolar attachment makes the leaf point upward on most species and cultivars. Like this













There are exceptions, however. Some Alocasias have leaves that are termed 'peltate' or 'quasi-peltate'. These plants have leaves with little or no sinus, so the petioles are set much farther down on the back of the leaf to allow the leaf to point up. Instead they will point OUT. Fortunately, most of these are in only a few groups, (longiliba/loweii, sanderiana, and Jewel) and are readily recognized by just their specific 'Look'.















COLOCASIAS always point OUT. The leaf is arranged so you look at its face head on













Xanthosomas are easily distinguished from the other 2 by the way their auricles are kind of squared at the top, not rounded. They also always tend to have a matte surface, and tend to be very large growing.







There are some rare 'aberrant' palmate forms of Xanthosoma that you are mostly unlikely to ever run across outside of a botanical garden, like this one...X. wendlandii

But by following the 'orientation' rule, you can usually differentiate between these 3 genuses without problem. Xanthosoma and Colocasia can be grown in ponds, tub gardens and bogs as aquatics or semi-aquatics. ALocasia, for the most part, cannot
Xanthosomas and Colocasias can form a trunk over time with age. Colocasia do not.

Thank you Gina, very informative, it can be confusing when different different geniuses are all called, "Elephant ears".
Years ago, I had to research to know which plants I had, so this is quite helpful, especially taking the time to post pictures.
You have a nice variety of plants, also.

Several years ago most colocasia used to have a matte surface to the leaf. I remember that the only Colocasia I knew that had a shiny surface was the species C. fontanesii. Now there are a TON of new hybrids that are shiny!

I have read that Colocasia prefer more sun and lots of moisture, which is probably why I have trouble with them lasting in my garden, where Alocasia prefer more shade and good soil drainage.

I grow most of my colocasias actually in water in full sun which is harsh here in Gainesville. If they were not in water they would die. ALocasias I have in at most half day sun

I have one C. 'Black Magic' that's been struggling, I will move it today and put it in my rain barrel, it keeps water in the top part, gets good sun. Thanks G.

Yeah if I tried to grow in the ground I'd be running out with the hose like 3-4 times a day LOL. Besides tub gardens are a garden feature all their own. We haven;t had our rainy season yet. We are behind almost 4" on rain here at the moment. May is usually wet, it was DRY. But that is supposed to chance tomorrow. Its supposed to kick in which will be great....nothing more time consuming than standing out in the yard with a hose in your hand

Our well pump went out this past week, guess I should be thankful it was during the rain season at least. I'm glad I have the rain barrels, but have to use a water can to water, at least it gives me some exercise.

OMG that happened to us earlier this year. We had our swimming pool replastered and went to fill it up and the well pump died. UGH