Leaves
Common Name: taro
Type: Bulb
Family: Araceae
Zone: 8 to 10
Height: 2.50 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 2.50 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: Flowers not showy
Bloom Description: White spadix with pale yellow spathe
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual, Water Plant, Rain Garden
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Colorful
Tolerate: Wet Soil
Culture
Best grown in fertile, humusy, organically rich, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Afternoon shade is appreciated in climates with hot summers. When growing plants in garden soils, provide regular moisture, especially during dry summer periods, and do not allow soils to dry out. Plants may also be grown as pond marginals in up to 6" of standing water. Plants produce prodigious amounts of growth and appreciate regular fertilization during the growing season. Site plants in locations protected form strong winds. Tubers may be left in the ground year-round in USDA Zones 8-10. In St. Louis, however, tubers should be planted in the ground in mid-spring (after April 20), dug up in fall after first frost and then overwintered in a cool dry location (set in dry peat or wood shavings) where temperatures do not dip below 45°F, in somewhat the same manner as done for cannas.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Colocasia esculenta, commonly called taro or elephant ear, is a tuberous, stemless, frost-tender perennial of the arum family (see also calla lily and jack-in-the-pulpit) which typically grows 3-6' tall and as wide. For gardeners, it is primarily grown as a foliage plant with huge, heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped, conspicuously-veined, downward-pointing, peltate leaves (to 2' long) on long, stout, succulent stems. As the common name suggests, each leaf purportedly resembles an elephant's ear. The typical aroid-type with yellowish-white spathes and spadixes are infrequently produced and usually hidden by the foliage when they do occur. This species is also commercially grown as a food crop in Hawaii (poi is made from the tubers) where it is commonly called taro.
Genus name comes from the Greek word kolokasia used for the root of Nelumbo nucifera.
Specific epithet means edible or good to eat.
'Hawaiian Punch' is a vigorous elephant ear selection that features 1.25-1.5' long, medium green leaves with contrasting purple-red petioles (leaf stems) and veins. The leaf margins are also slightly wavy. Mature plants can reach up to 3' tall with an equal spread. The typical aroid-type inflorescence is not particularly showy. This plant is protected by patent number PP24596.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Lends a large tropical look to mixed borders, rain gardens, water margins and large containers. Can be used as a water plant. Excellent as a specimen or in groups.