Colocasia

Alocasia
Prefers moist organic soil. In cool climates, a thick winter mulch is recommended.
They are not salt tolerant. Pests and disease problems are rare. Some of the more abundant species of Alocasia are commonly sold in Florida as canned plants, less frequently elsewhere.

* photos of unknown internet source



Alocasia baginda 'Silver Dragon'

* photo taken on Oct 12 2023 in Columbia, MD

Alocasia culcullata ( Hooded Dwarf Elephant Ear )
Reaches up to 3 x 3 feet in size, with leaves, up to 16 x 12 inches borne on a stalk up to 3 feet in length. It is native to Burma and India.
Hardy zones 7b to 11 in partial shade on fertile, permanently moist to wet soil.

Alocasia cuprea
Native to tropical forests of Malaysia and Borneo, it is a rhizomatous perennial, reaching up to 4 x 4 feet.
The oval leaves, up to 18 inches in length, are metallic-purple. The leaves are borne on thick stalks up to 2 feet in length.
Hardy zones 1o to 12 inc partial shade. It requires high humidity.

Alocasia gageana
Reaches up to 8 feet in height with massive leaves, up to 6 feet in length.

Alocasia gigantea
Reaches up to 6 feet, with large leaves, up to 4 feet in length.
Hardy zones 7 to 11

Alocasia 'Kuching Mask'
Fast growing and large, reaching up to 8 x 5 feet in size.
The huge rippled leaves average 32 x 20.5 inches in size.. The foliage is deep green with whitish-green veins.
Hardy zones 8 to 11, it has excellent resistance to root rot.

* patent photos

Alocasia longiloba
Reaches up to 3.3 x 3.3 feet and is native to southeastern Asia including the Phillipines.
Hardy zone 12

* photo taken on Dec 11 2023 in Columbia, MD

Alocasia macrorhiza ( Giant Elephant Ears )
A large evergreen shrub, reaching a maximum size of 17 x 16 feet with a trunk diameter of up to 15 inches, that is native to southern Asia incl. India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia. Plants are fast growing, reaching up to 10 feet in the first year.
The massive, thick, heart-shaped leaves, up to 10 x 6.5 feet, are borne on thick stalks up to 7 feet in length. The foliage is glossy green.
Hardy zones 9 ( 7b to 8 ) in full sun to partial shade on moist, fertile, well drained soil.

* photos taken on Aug 3 2014 @ U.S. National Zoo, Wash., DC

* photo taken on Sep 2 2022 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash, DC

* photos taken on June 19 2023 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

* photo taken on Aug 22 2021 in Bayfield, ON

* photo of unknown internet source

'Borneo Giant'
Fast growing, reaching up to 15 feet with huge leaves up to 5 feet across.

Alocasia 'Mayan Mask'
Fast growing, reaching up to 6 x 4 feet in 3 years ( eventually up to 5 feet wide ) and producing leaves up to 32 x 20.5 inches in size on a plant of the samme age. They are born on a stalk up to 3 feet in length. The foliage is glossy mid-green with pale green veins above, and deep brownish-purple beneath.
Hardy zones 9 to 11 ( tolerating 16 F ).

* patent photo

Alocasia odora
Reaches up to 15 ( rarely 25 ) feet with massive leaves, up to 4.3 x 4 feet, borne on long thick stalks up to 12 feet in length.
Fast growing, plants can reach a height of 3 feet in the first year.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC

Alocasia plumbea 'Nigra'
Reaches up to 5 x 4 feet in size, and is native to Indonesia.
The huge ruffled leaves are up to 6.5 x 2 feet in size. The foliage is glossy deep green to nearly black above, glossy deep silvery-purple beneath.
Hardy zones 9 to 12 in partial shade on permanently moist to west soil.

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 11 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC

Alocasia 'Polly' ( African Mask Plant )
Also called Alocasia z amazonica 'Polly'. A tropical perennial, reaching up to 2 x 2 feet in size.
The wavy-edged, arrowhead-shaped leaves are glossy blackish-green with bold silvery-white veins and leaf edges.
Hardy zones 10 to 12 in partial shade on fertile, loamy, permanently moist to wet soil outdoors. It makes a great indoor plant in a humid environment in bright conditions without direct full sun.

* photos taken on Nov 15 2018 in Elkridge, MD

Alocasia 'Portodora'
The hybrid between Alocaris odora & A. portel, forming clumps, up to 8 x 6 feet in size, of huge heavily-scalloped, glossy mid-green foliage on muscular purple stocks.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

Alocasia reginula ( Black Velvet Alocasia )

* photo taken on June 28 2022 in Elkridge, MD

Alocasia robusta
Huge leaves up to 14.8 x 8 feet in size, making this the worlds largest undivided leaf.

Alocasia wentii ( Wents Elephant Ear )
Native to the highlands of New Guinea, it forms tight clumps of heavily-veined leaves, up to 12 x 8 inches, that are glossy bronze-green above, purple beneath.
Hardy zones 7b to 11 in partial shade on fertile, permanently moist to wet soil. Should be hardy in the British Isles.

Colocasia

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


Colocasia esculenta ( Taro )
A perennial forming a clump, up to 7 x 6 feet, that is native to Sri Lanka.
The Taro is very fast growing, reaching a height up to 6 feet in the first year.
It is grown as a commercial crop in parts of the tropics. In tropical climates it is evergreen.
The large, cordate, arrowhead-shaped leaves, up to 3 x 1 feet, are borne on thick stalks up to 40 inches in length. The foliage is bright green. There are few landscape plants that do a better job adding a tropical effect to the landscape.
The flower spaethes are up to 15 inches in length.
Hardy zones 10+ as an evergreen perennial; zones 7b to 9 as a herbaceous perennial ( mulch during winter ). Taro prefers full sun and loves heat and moisture, it can even be grown in a shallow pond.
PHARMACOLOGY: The tuber is edible but only after steeping in cold water overnight or cooking. They can be peeled and boiled.
The foliage is NOT edible.

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Oct 27 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 28 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Big Dipper'
Reaches up to 6 feet with huge matte gray-green leaves borne on purplish-black stems.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 ( 6 with protection ).

'Black Coral'
Fast growing, reaching up to 4 x 3.3 feet in 1 year with heavily-corrugated, very glossy black foliage. The leaves are up to 14.5 x 10 inches in size on a one year plant.
Hardy zones 7b to 11.

* photo taken on Aug 19 2021 in Windsor, ON

* patent photo

'Black Magic'
Forms a rapid spreading clump, up to 7 x 7 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, with arrow-shaped leaves, up to 25 x 16 inches in size. The foliage is deep plum-purple.
Rapid spreading with deep plum-purple foliage.
Hardy north to zone 7b to 9

* photos taken on July 6 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 25 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 6 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 14 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 24 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 21 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 5 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 29 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 10 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Black Ruffles'
Very fast growing, reaching up to 6 x 5 feet.
Hardy north to zone 8.

* photo taken on Aug 11 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Black Runner'
Similar to 'Black Magic' but has runners that creep along the ground to form new plants. Reaches up to 6 feet in height.

'Coal Miner'
Reaches up to 4.5 feet with foliage that is very similar to that of "Illustris" but emerges as much as 2 months earlier in spring.



'Black Sapphire'
Fast growing, reaching up to 7 x 6 feet.
The foliage is glossy blackish-purple. The ovate leaves average 28 x 14 inches in size.
Hardy zones 7+.

'Coffee Cups'
Stunning and fast growing, reaching up to 6 x 6 feet, with large cup-shaped leaves that are olive-green and borne on a thick black stalk.
Thrives in partial shade or where summer heat isn't too intense - full sun.
During autumn; it sends out above ground runners as a means of spreading.

* photo taken on July 4 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


'Diamond Head'
Fast growing, reaching up to 4 x 4 feet during first season, eventually up to 7 feet with massive beautiful glossy blackish-purple leaves, up to 3 x 1.5 feet in size.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photo taken on October 24 2010 in Washington, D.C.

* photo taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Rawlings Conservatory, Baltimore, MD

* patent photo

'Elena'
Reaches up to 6 x 6 feet with bold foliage that is bright yellow at first, later turning to yellow-green. The leaves are up to 20 inches long. Looks great with deep purple to black foliaged Colocasias for contrast.
Hardy zones 7b +

* photo taken on July 4 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

'Illustris' ( Imperial Taro )
Similar to 'Black Magic' reaching up to 6 x 6 feet, with polished, metallic purple leaves, up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy north to zone 7.

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey, PA

'Maui Sunrise'
Reaches up to 3 feet. It clumps from the base and has a high leaf count. It generally takes it 2 years to become a 5 gallon containerized plant from a 1.5 inch cell transplant. A single clump can produced up to 60 leaves.
The glossy mid-green foliage is boldly centered and veined white. The leaves are up to 16 x 10 inches in size.
Hardy zones 7b+

* plant patent photo

'Maximus Gigante'
Very fast growing, reaching up to 8 feet in a single season and 8 x 8 feet in 3 years.
The gigantic leaves are up to 5 x 2 feet in size. The foliage is purple with greenish-yellow veins.
Hardy zones 7 tp 10

* patent photo

'Mojito'
Fast growing, reaching up to 5 x 4 feet, with bright green foliage that is blotched and speckled deep purple.the leaves are up to 24 x 18 inches in size.
Hardy north to zone 8 ( 7b on protected sites with deep winter mulch ).

* photos taken on July 30 2018 in Columbia, MD

'Noble Gigante'
A cultivar of Colocasia gigaqntea with huge blackish-purple leaves with a purplish-blue sheen in full sun, softer purple with a green tint in the shade.
It is extremely vigorous, reaching up to 8 x 8 feet in just 1 year.
Hardy zones 8 to 11, it prefers afternoon shade.

'Pink China'
Reaches up to 8 feet with large jade green leaves borne on thick red stems.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 ( 4 and 5 on protected sites with winter mulch ).
This is the hardiest of the Colocasias.

'Imperial'
Foliage is light green and marked blue-black between the primary veins.

'Pharaoh's Mask'
Forms a clump up to 5 x 4 feet in size.
The shiny olive-green foliage is boldly veined deep purple and running to the edge of the leaf.
Hardy zones 7b+

* patent photos

'Variegata'
Foliage is deep green and blotched with creamy-white.

'Violacea'
Foliage is tinged with violet.

'Waikiki'
Forms a vigorous clump, reaching up to 5 x 6.5 feet in size. A mature plant can consist of 25 to 30 leaves at a time.
The foliage is glossy deep green with white centers and deep pink veins. The leaves are up to 14 x 9 inches in size. The stems are deep red.
Hardy zones 8 to 11 in full sun to partial shade.

* photo taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC

Colocasia gigantea
Reaches up to 8 feet with huge leaves, up to 5 x 3 feet, that are pale green above, white beneath. Native to Malaysia.
Hardy zones 10 to 12

'Deagon Heart'
Reaches up to 8 feet in height in a single season, eventually up to 8 x 8 feet.
The velvety foliage is very deep blackish-purple. The ovate leaves are up to 3 x 2 feet.
Hardy zones 8 to 11

* patent photo

'Thailand Giant Strain'
The "Colocasia on Steroids" reaching up to 9 x 9 or rarely even 20 x 12 feet!
On ideal sites, this plant can spread up to 12 feet in just 3 years.
The massive leaves, up to 5+ x 5 feet are glaucous green.
The dramatic large flowers are white and fragrant.

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo tsken on Oct 17 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 23 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 22 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 4 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 19 2021 in Windsor, ON

Colocasia - Tropical Species

* photo taken on 4th of July @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


Xanthosma

Xanthosoma lindenii

* photo taken on Oct 12 2023 in Columbia, MD

Xanthosoma sagittifolia
Reaches up to 9 feet with glossy green leaves, up to 5 feet in length.

Xanthosma 'Lime Zinger'
Very vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 6 feet in just 1 summer with massive, intense lime-green leaves, up to 2 feet in length.
Hardy zones 9 to 10 in sun or partial shade on moist, fertile, acidic soil.

Xanthosoma 'St. Mary's Giant'
Reaches up to 5 x 5 feet, with leaves up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy north to zone 10

Xanthosma violaceum ( Blue Taro )
Huge leaves, up to 4 feet in length, borne on thick purple stems up to 7 feet in length. The foliage is purple at first, turning to sea-green.