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About African Iris and Elephant Ear


About Elephant Ear and African Iris


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Tender Perennial  
Tender Perennial  

Origin
Southern Africa  
Southeastern Asia  

Types
Perennial  
Taro Alocasia reginula, Night scented lily  

Number of Varieties
50  
99+
70  
99+

Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions  
Terrestrial, Wet lands  

USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10  
10-15  

AHS Heat Zone
10-8  
12-8  

Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24  
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24  

Habit
Clump-Forming  
Cushion/Mound-forming  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
61.30 cm  
99+
20.30 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
30.50 cm  
99+
30.50 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown  
White  

Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor  
-  

Fruit Color
Green, Brown  
-  

Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green  
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black  

Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green  
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black  

Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green  
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black  

Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green  
Green, Dark Green, Silver, Black  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Grass like  
Heart-shaped  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade  

Growth Rate
Medium  
Fast  

Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Loam  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Drainage
Average  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Indeterminate  
Indeterminate  

Repeat Bloomer
Yes  
Yes  

Tolerances
Drought  
Full Sun, Humidity  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot  
Container, Ground, Pot  

How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings  
Divison, From bulbs, From Rhizomes  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Low  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water Deeply  

In Summer
Lots of watering  
Lots of watering  

In Spring
Moderate  
Average Water  

In Winter
Average Water  
Less Watering  

Soil
  
  

Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  

Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand  
Loam  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Average  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade  

Pruning
Remove dead leaves  
Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads  

Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium  

Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale  
Blight, Mites, Red spider mite  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Full Sun, Humidity  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Insignificant  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
No  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
No  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Medium  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
Matte  
Matte  

Evergreen
No  
No  

Invasive
No  
No  

Self-Sowing
Yes  
No  

Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies  
Spider Mites  

Allergy
Skin irritation  
Toxic  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes  
Beautification, Showy Purposes  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
No  
No  

Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic  
Air purification, Food for insects  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
-  

Part of Plant Used
Root  
-  

Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant  
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
Yes  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens  
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor  
ALOCASIA reginula  

Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily  
Elephant Ear  

In Hindi
African Iris  
Elephant Ear  

In German
Afrikanische Iris  
Elephant Ear  

In French
African Iris  
Elephant Ear  

In Spanish
Iris africano  
Elephant Ear  

In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris  
Elephant Ear  

In Portuguese
Iris africano  
Elephant Ear  

In Polish
Afryki Iris  
Elephant Ear  

In Latin
African Iris  
Elephant Ear  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Liliopsida  

Order
Asparagales  
Alismatales  

Family
Iridaceae  
Araceae  

Genus
Dietes  
Alocasia  

Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots  
Angiosperms, Monocots  

Tribe
Irideae  
Colocasiodeae  

Subfamily
Iridoideae  
Aroideae  

Number of Species
300  
99+
79  
99+

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of African Iris and Elephant Ear

Wondering what are the properties of African Iris and Elephant Ear? We provide you with everything About African Iris and Elephant Ear. African Iris doesn't have thorns and Elephant Ear doesn't have thorns. Also African Iris does not have fragrant flowers. African Iris has allergic reactions like Skin irritation and Elephant Ear has allergic reactions like Skin irritation. Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of African Iris and Elephant Ear and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

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Season and Care of African Iris and Elephant Ear

Season and care of African Iris and Elephant Ear is important to know. While considering everything about African Iris and Elephant Ear Care, growing season is an essential factor. African Iris season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Elephant Ear season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for African Iris is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Elephant Ear is Loam while the PH of soil for African Iris is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Elephant Ear is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.

African Iris and Elephant Ear Physical Information

African Iris and Elephant Ear physical information is very important for comparison. African Iris height is 61.30 cm and width 30.50 cm whereas Elephant Ear height is 20.30 cm and width 30.50 cm. The color specification of African Iris and Elephant Ear are as follows:

Care of African Iris and Elephant Ear

Care of African Iris and Elephant Ear include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. African Iris pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Elephant Ear pruning is done Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove deadheads. In summer African Iris needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Elephant Ear needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Less Watering.

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