Giant Elephant Ear
Colocasia gigantea
For a truly car stopping, eye popping plant to grow in your garden, try this tropical monster plant from Thailand! These plants can grow 6-10' tall in a single season, and they get their name from their resemblance in size and shape to an elephant's ear. The leaves can reach proportions of 5'x4', and are rounded and a beautiful blue green color. As you can see from the picture, it has a bloom that is much like the bloom of a peace lily, though much, much larger.
This bulb plant prefers a shady to part shady location with ample room and some wind protection. Provide an acidic, well drained soil for optimum conditions for massive growth. Water this plant often, not allowing it to dry out between waterings, and fertilize at least once a week with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Grown here in Cincinnati, this plant will not survive the winter outside, but before the first frost you can cut it back, dig it up and dry the bulb, then keep it in a cool dry place for the winter, or you can keep it in a large pot inside. Beware though, as you will need lots of room if you plan on growing it through the winter. You can get a head start on the new season by starting the bulb in a pot inside in early spring, then after danger of frost, replant it in your garden for another spectacular summer!
By: Sandy Weinkam
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses
This bulb plant prefers a shady to part shady location with ample room and some wind protection. Provide an acidic, well drained soil for optimum conditions for massive growth. Water this plant often, not allowing it to dry out between waterings, and fertilize at least once a week with a high nitrogen fertilizer. Grown here in Cincinnati, this plant will not survive the winter outside, but before the first frost you can cut it back, dig it up and dry the bulb, then keep it in a cool dry place for the winter, or you can keep it in a large pot inside. Beware though, as you will need lots of room if you plan on growing it through the winter. You can get a head start on the new season by starting the bulb in a pot inside in early spring, then after danger of frost, replant it in your garden for another spectacular summer!
By: Sandy Weinkam
A.J. Rahn Greenhouses
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