Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Southeastern Asia
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Tropical regions
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
10-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
V-Shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
No pruning needed
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
No
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Allergy
Rash
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Environmental Uses
Air purification
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Elephant Ear, Taro
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
अरवी
In German
Shell Ginger
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Shell Ginger
Colocasia
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Colocasia
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Colocasia
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Kolokazja
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Colocasia
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Arales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Araceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Aroideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Season and Care of Shell Ginger and Taro
Season and care of Shell Ginger and Taro is important to know. While considering everything about Shell Ginger and Taro Care, growing season is an essential factor. Shell Ginger season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Taro season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Shell Ginger is Loam, Sand and for Taro is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Shell Ginger is Acidic, Neutral and for Taro is Acidic, Neutral.
Shell Ginger and Taro Physical Information
Shell Ginger and Taro physical information is very important for comparison. Shell Ginger height is 180.00 cm and width 120.00 cm whereas Taro height is 30.00 cm and width 30.00 cm. The color specification of Shell Ginger and Taro are as follows:
Shell Ginger flower color: White, Red and Light Pink
Shell Ginger leaf color: Dark Green
Taro flower color: White and Green
- Taro leaf color: Dark Green and Ivory
Care of Shell Ginger and Taro
Care of Shell Ginger and Taro include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. 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 and Taro pruning is done No pruning needed. In summer Shell Ginger needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Taro needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.