Colocasia "Esculenta"

  • Other common names taro , aivi , bleeding heart , cocoyam
    dasheen , eddo , Egyptian ginger , elephant ears , imo  , kalo
    keladi , talas , callaloo , dalo

  • Synonyms Colocasia antiquorum

  • Family Araceae

  • Genus Colocasia can be deciduous or evergreen, tuberous-rooted perennials with arrow-shaped or rounded leaves, often prominently veined; flowers are minute, on a spadix held within a small white spathe, but are seldom produced in cultivation

  • Details C. esculenta is a tuberous, evergreen perennial to 1.5m in height, with long-stalked, heart-shaped or arrow-shaped, rich-green leaves with 60cm blades on metre-long stalks. Grown as a staple food in tropical Asia

  • Plant range Trop. E Asia

How to grow

 

Cultivation Under glass, pot up tubers in loamless potting compost. Keep in bright, filtered light and high humidity. Water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly when in growth. Keep just moist in winter. Keep tubers dry and frost-free when dormant. Requires 21°C minimum to stay evergreen

Propagation Propagate by division in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types Architectural Patio & Container Plants

 

How to care

 

Pruning No pruning necessary

Pests Glasshouse red spider mite, aphids and glasshouse whitefly may cause problems

Diseases Generally trouble free