Archive for the ‘Colocasia’ Category

Creating A Tropical Look

Here are some ideas for designing a tropical landscape in your yard. Start with large leafy trees that are hardy in zones 6-7 include catalpa (Catalpa spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), some oaks (Quercus spp.), large leaf maple (Acer macrophylla), American sycamore (Platanus americana), American linden (Tilia americana), and Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa). In zones 7-9 […]

Elephant Ears In Motion

Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and their aroid cousins have become commonplace in not only hot, humid southern gardens, as well in temperate landscapes. Gardeners grow them in large containers and overwinter them indoors in a non-freezing environ. Also, my neighbors in zone 6 blanket in-ground plantings with several inches of loosely packed leaves overwinter. Colocasia […]

Elephant Ears In The Garden

If gardeners want to add some tropical punch to the garden, elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and a close botanical cousin (Alocasia) are one of the first plants that I recommend (USDA hardiness zones 7b-10). Also called ornamental taro, plants take off and grow rapidly after spring planting (when all threats of freeze injury have waned). […]

Planting A Tropical Look In Your Temperate Garden

This summer, whether you garden in Florida or Michigan, you can enjoy the tropical look in your garden with these 5 leafy plants, which are classified as “foliage annuals” because they are hardy in zones 10-12. Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum pictum) in its natural tropical habitat grows 6-9 feet tall, typically 4-5 feet tall in zone […]

Fall/Winter Water Garden Maintenance

In the spring and summer seasons, a water garden is a tranquil and refreshing respite in the home landscape.  However, in the fall, lots of leaves and debris fall into the pond. Here are a few  tips to prepare your water garden for the winter season. Some water gardens are designed so that the waterfalls and streams run continuously through the fall-winter […]

Texas Elephant Ears Study*

Dr. Jared Barnes and colleagues at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, trialed 46 Colocasia species/cultivars over two years to determine what performed best over a two-year growing period. First of all, Nacogdoches is in east Texas (Zone 8-b) and typifies the upper coastal plain, stretching from there east to South Carolina. Cultivars were […]

Tips On Repotting Container Plants

Eventually, all potted plants outgrow their containers. This includes potted roses, Japanese maples and other small trees, shrubs, dwarf conifers, elephant ears (Colocasia, Alocasia), cannas, lotus, papyrus, and lots more. A rule of thumb is to transplant every 2 years in early spring before bud break. In the case of perennials and tropicals, this is a good […]

‘Mojito’ Elephant Ear Is A Tropical Joy

            ‘Mojito’ elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta), aka taro plant, has become a new favorite in the Conlon garden where it is not dependably winter hardy (Zone 6b). According to Tony Avent at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC, tubers are dependably winter hardy in zones 7b -10. ‘Mojito’ (pronounced “Mo-he-toe”) is a sport of […]

‘Thailand Giant’ Elephant Ear Fun Novelty

‘Thailand Giant’ elephant ear (Colocasia gigantea) is rated as an annual (USDA hardiness zone 8-10), where the growing season may last 300 days and longer. Thailand Giant develops into a massive 9- foot tall plant with attractive grey-green foliage species. In the Southern Appalachian and Middle Atlantic regions they may reach 5 – 6 feet […]

‘Bikini-tini’ Colocasia Creates Movement in The Garden

Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta), aka taro, ape plant, and elephant ear, among other names, is marginally hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). The 2011 colocasia introduction ‘Bikini-tini’ has garnered high praise from neighbors and friends visiting my garden in the summer.  Bikini-tini is a strong stemmed thick-leaved plant that grows 4 to 5 feet in height. […]