Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Elena')
Colocasia esculenta 'Elena' offers massive, chartreuse, heart-shaped leaves, perfect for creating instant tropical drama in your garden or pond.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’, widely known as Taro or Elephant Ear, is prized by gardeners for its dramatic, tropical foliage structure. This cultivar stands out with its large, heart-shaped leaves featuring vibrant chartreuse coloring accented by distinct purple center veins. It provides immediate, large-scale impact, transforming ordinary garden spaces into lush, exotic landscapes.
As a tuberous perennial, care requirements focus on providing consistent moisture and ideal soil conditions to support its prodigious growth habit. While it functions beautifully as an annual accent in cooler regions, Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ thrives when treated as a perennial in warmer zones. Its significant size makes it an excellent focal point or water margin specimen.
The structure of this Taro lends itself perfectly to creating bold contrasts against finer-textured plants. Whether used in a mixed border, positioned near a pond edge, or grown solo in a large container, Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ delivers reliable texture and height throughout the growing season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Araceae
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 7-10
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2-4 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: Flowers not showy
- Bloom Description: White spadix with pale yellow spathe
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting should occur in mid-spring once the danger of frost has fully passed. Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ thrives best when situated in fertile, humusy, organically rich soils that retain moisture, ranging from medium dampness to wet conditions. Place these specimens where they receive full sun, though afternoon shade is beneficial in extremely hot summer climates to prevent leaf scorch.
Consistent moisture is critical for this Taro throughout the warm months; never allow the garden soils to dry out completely, especially during summer stress periods. These plants are heavy feeders and appreciate regular fertilization throughout the growing season to support their massive leaf production. Site your Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ away from strong winds, which can easily batter the large leaves.
For gardeners in USDA Zones 8 through 10, the tubers can often be left in the ground to overwinter naturally. For colder regions, or in St. Louis practices mentioned historically, dig the tubers after the first fall frost. Store the dug tubers in a cool, dry location, ensuring temperatures remain above 45°F, often nestled in dry peat or wood shavings.
Plants are also highly adaptable to wet environments and can be successfully grown as pond marginals, placed directly into standing water up to 6 inches deep. This versatility allows for creative integration into almost any wet or consistently moist landscape setting.
Landscape Uses
The bold texture and towering presence of Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ make it an exceptional choice for lending an immediate, large tropical look to landscapes. These plants excel when integrated into mixed borders where their large, paddle-like leaves contrast beautifully with finer foliage textures like ornamental grasses or ferns. They serve as superb visual anchors.
Consider using this Taro variety around the edges of water features or in true rain gardens, capitalizing on its tolerance for wet soil conditions. As a specimen plant, a single large clump of Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ grabs attention immediately, while grouping them creates a dense, jungle-like screen effect. They also perform excellently when given ample space in large containers that can be moved seasonally.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Colocasia esculenta, commonly called taro or elephant ear, is a tuberous, stemless, frost-tender perennial of the arum family. For gardeners, it is primarily grown as a foliage plant sporting huge, heart-shaped to arrowhead-shaped, conspicuously-veined, downward-pointing leaves up to 2 feet long on stout stems. ‘Elena’ is a distinct cultivar featuring chartreuse leaves with prominent purple center veins, reaching up to 4 feet tall.
Tolerances
- Wet Soil
Potential Problems
This variety generally shows no serious insect or disease problems when grown in appropriate conditions. Since the primary requirement is consistent moisture, watch for signs of stress during extended dry spells, which may make the plant more susceptible to opportunistic pests. Good air circulation, achieved by ensuring adequate spacing, helps prevent common fungal issues that excessive humidity can sometimes promote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Taro suitable for?
Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ is generally hardy in USDA Zones 7 through 10, though winter protection or digging tubers is required outside of Zones 8-10 for year-round perennial survival.
How large does Taro grow?
Mature clumps of Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ typically reach 2 to 4 feet in height with a spread ranging from 1.5 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ need?
This plant performs well in full sun or partial shade; however, protection from the most intense afternoon sun is beneficial in hotter climates where leaf scorch can occur.
When does Taro bloom?
The flowers of Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ are not showy, consisting of an infrequent white spadix surrounded by a pale yellow spathe, often hidden by the foliage.
Conclusion
Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ offers unparalleled tropical drama through its massive, chartreuse foliage, making it an indispensable player in water gardens and lush borders. Successfully growing this Taro requires commitment to consistent moisture and rich soil to maximize its impressive size. Before planting, confirm that your growing area falls within USDA Zones 7-10, or plan for overwintering tubers if growing as an annual.
Companion Planting
When planning a tropical display around your Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’, consider using plants that complement its large scale and moisture needs. Caladiums, with their colorful, equally large leaves, thrive under similar conditions of shade and humidity, providing color variety where the Taro focuses on texture and lime-green tones. Cannas, which share a similar culture regarding tuber overwintering, offer upright, flower-laden accents that contrast nicely with the drooping habit of the Elephant Ear leaves.
Design Ideas
Utilize Colocasia esculenta ‘Elena’ as a bold backdrop or specimen planting to define borders. In sunny, wet areas, group three or five plants together to mimic a naturalized waterside scene, echoing its natural habitat preference. For container culture, pair it with trailing edibles or annuals that cascade over the pot edge, framing the dramatic upright structure of the bright chartreuse foliage against hardscaping or patios.
