Giant Elephant Ear (Giant Taro)

Plant in moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil in partial to full shade; giant elephant ear is one of the most dramatically bold-textured tropical plants available for zone 9–12 gardens, producing truly enormous, upward-pointing, arrow-shaped leaves — 2–4 feet long — on stout petioles that can reach 6–15 feet tall, creating an unmistakably tropical visual impact that transforms any landscape. Unlike the Colocasia elephant ears (which droop their leaves), Alocasia macrorrhiza holds its leaves upward and outward, creating a distinctive architectural silhouette. It thrives in the bright, filtered shade beneath large trees and palms in the hot, humid Gulf Coast climate, where high moisture, rich soil, and warmth produce the largest, most spectacular plants. The massive rhizomes are edible (raw parts are toxic due to calcium oxalate crystals — must be cooked) and are used as a starchy vegetable in Pacific Island cuisine. Remove damaged leaves promptly and fertilize monthly during the growing season for best growth. Спосіб посадки: Розмноження діленням куща Відстань між рослинами: 60–96 дюймів Висота: 60–180 дюймів

Plant in moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil in partial to full shade; giant elephant ear is one of the most dramatically bold-textured tropical plants available for zone 9–12 gardens, producing truly enormous, upward-pointing, arrow-shaped leaves — 2–4 feet long — on stout petioles that can reach 6–15 feet tall, creating an unmistakably tropical visual impact that transforms any landscape. Unlike the Colocasia elephant ears (which droop their leaves), Alocasia macrorrhiza holds its leaves upward and outward, creating a distinctive architectural silhouette. It thrives in the bright, filtered shade beneath large trees and palms in the hot, humid Gulf Coast climate, where high moisture, rich soil, and warmth produce the largest, most spectacular plants. The massive rhizomes are edible (raw parts are toxic due to calcium oxalate crystals — must be cooked) and are used as a starchy vegetable in Pacific Island cuisine. Remove damaged leaves promptly and fertilize monthly during the growing season for best growth. Спосіб посадки: Розмноження діленням куща Відстань між рослинами: 60–96 дюймів Висота: 60–180 дюймів --- Час посадки: 2–6 тижнів spring Plant divisions or offsets in spring after temperatures are reliably above 65°F in moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic, well-drained to moist soil in partial shade to full sun; Alocasia macrorrhiza grows vigorously in warm, humid weather and produces new leaves rapidly in good conditions. In zone 9 it may die back to the ground after hard freezes but regrows from established rhizomes in spring.