Alocasia macrorrhizos
Large tropical Araceae grown as both an ornamental foliage plant and a major starch source, with leaves up to 1.5 meters long, propagates via tubers, contains calcium oxalate crystals that must be cooked to neutralize toxins, and may be invasive in some regions.
Common Names
Giant Taro, Elephant Ear, Giant Elephant Ear, Elephant's Ear, Ape, Cunjevoi, Pia, Biga, Giant Alocasia
Summary
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Lifecycle
Perennial (also grown as an annual in cooler climates; dormant in cooler months)
Height
12-15 feet
Spread
6-8 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9b-12
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial sun to partial shade; tolerates full sun.
Soil Type
Well-drained, loamy soil
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained loamy soil.
Soil pH
5.7-6.3, slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
White to yellowish green
Bloom Time
Summer
Foliage Color
Glossy dark green, white-variegated in some cultivars.
Fall Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Fast-growing
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts insects (including Colocasiomyia flies) as pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) G.Don
- Publication
- Hort. Brit. , ed. 3: 631 (1839)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Alismatales
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Alocasia
Synonyms
Philodendron punctatum Arum cordifolium Arum macrorrhizon Arum mucronatum Arum rapiforme Caladium indica Caladium macrorrhizon Caladium metallicum Caladium odoratum Caladium plumbeum Calla badian Calla maxima Alocasia macrorrhizos var. variegata Colocasia rapiformis Colocasia boryi Colocasia mucronata Colocasia peregrina Alocasia cordifolia Alocasia grandis Alocasia indica Alocasia marginata Alocasia pallida Alocasia plumbea Alocasia rapiformis Alocasia uhinkii Colocasia indica Alocasia harrisiipulchrum Alocasia insignis Philodendron peregrinum Arum peregrinum Colocasia macrorrhizos Alocasia gigas