Description
Elephant Ears (Colocasia)→Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta ‘Illustris’)
| Imperial Taro |
| Elephant’s Ear |
| Taro |
| Colocasia esculenta | Accepted |
| Colocasia antiquorum var. illustris | Synonym |
| Colocasia esculenta var. illustris | Synonym |
| Colocasia illustris |
| ‘Imperial’ |
| ‘Illustrius’ |
| Plant habit: | Running |
| Plant height: | Tall (>40 inches) |
| Leaf base: | Peltate |
| Leaf form: | Flat |
| Leaf surface (top of leaf): | Dull (Matte) |
| Leaf color (top of leaf): | Blackish Green |
| Leaf main veins color (top of leaf): | Green |
| Petiole junction color (top of leaf): | Green |
| Petiole color: | Green |
| Plant Habit: | Herb/Forb |
| Life cycle: | Perennial |
| Sun Requirements: | Full Sun to Partial Shade Partial or Dappled Shade |
| Water Preferences: | Wet Mesic |
| Plant Height: | 3 to 5 feet (.9-1.5 m) |
| Leaves: | Variegated |
| Flower Color: | Yellow |
| Bloom Size: | 6″-12″ |
| Flower Time: | Other: Seasonal |
| Underground structures: | Tuber |
| Suitable Locations: | Bog gardening |
| Uses: | Will Naturalize |
| Eating Methods: | Cooked |
| Resistances: | Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant Humidity tolerant |
| Toxicity: | Other: All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus. Toxic to cats and dogs. |
| Propagation: Seeds: | Other info: Remove seed from berry which contains chemicals that inhibit germination. |
| Propagation: Other methods: | Division Stolons and runners Offsets |
| Containers: | Suitable in 3 gallon or larger |
| Miscellaneous: | Goes Dormant |
| Child plants: | one child plant |
