Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Types
Taro Alocasia reginula, Night scented lily
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Habitat
Terrestrial, Wet lands
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
8-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White
White, Red, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Multi-Color
Fruit Color
Not Available
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green, Silver, Black
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Lance shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Tolerances
Full Sun, Humidity
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Divison, From bulbs, From Rhizomes
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water Deeply
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Apply 8-4-6 amount
Pests and Diseases
Blight, Mites, Red spider mite
No serious insect or disease problems
Plant Tolerance
Full Sun, Humidity
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Spider Mites
Butterflies, Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
No Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA reginula
ALPINIA zerumbet
Common Name
Elephant Ear
Shell Ginger
In Hindi
Elephant Ear
Shell Ginger
In German
Elephant Ear
Shell Ginger
In French
Elephant Ear
Shell Ginger
In Spanish
Elephant Ear
Shell jengibre
In Greek
Elephant Ear
Shell Τζίντζερ
In Portuguese
Elephant Ear
Shell Ginger
In Polish
Elephant Ear
Shell Imbir
In Latin
Elephant Ear
Crusta Ginger
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Alismatales
Zingiberales
Family
Araceae
Zingiberaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Alpinieae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Alpinioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Season and Care of Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger
Season and care of Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger is important to know. While considering everything about Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger Care, growing season is an essential factor. Elephant Ear season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Elephant Ear is Loam and for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Elephant Ear is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral.
Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger Physical Information
Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger physical information is very important for comparison. Elephant Ear height is 20.30 cm and width 30.50 cm whereas Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm. The color specification of Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger are as follows:
Elephant Ear flower color: White
Elephant Ear leaf color: Purple, Dark Green, Silver and Black
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
- Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger
Care of Elephant Ear and Shell Ginger include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Elephant Ear pruning is done Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove deadheads and Shell Ginger pruning is done Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Elephant Ear needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Less Watering. Whereas, in summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.