Elephant Ear Plant Plant Care

Elephant Ear Plant (Colocasia esculenta) belongs to the Araceae family within the Colocasia genus. Elephant Ear Plant is also known as Taro, Dasheen, Elephant Ear.

Elephant Ear Plant displays a large, tropical foliage plant growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 4 ft. Elephant Ear Plant produces produces insignificant flowers, grown for its foliage.

Leaf size: approximately 18 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Elephant Ear Plant every 4–7 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Elephant Ear Plant thrives in bright indirect light to partial shade. Avoid placing Elephant Ear Plant in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Colocasia esculenta tolerates temperatures of 65–85°F. Elephant Ear Plant prefers humidity levels of 60–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Rich, moist, well-draining soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Elephant Ear Plant to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Elephant Ear Plant every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect light to partial shade and rich, moist, well-draining soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Elephant Ear Plant is suited to USDA Zone 8a – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Elephant Ear Plant can spread to about 4 ft (1.2 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 4 ft (1.2 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Elephant Ear Plant while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Elephant Ear Plant is hardy down to USDA zone 8a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Elephant Ear Plant can be propagated through division of rhizomes, offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to taro plant plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Elephant Ear Plant is susceptible to spider mites, aphids, mealybugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Elephant Ear Plant grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8a – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8a.