Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Orange, Dark Red (Ratan aboli), Yellow, Delhi Crossandra , Arka Ambara, Arka Kanaka (IIHR varieties)
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Screen Cottage and Informal Garden, Urban areas, Wild
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Green
Orange, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
-
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Water daily during growing season
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Balanced liquid fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
-
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Agroforestry
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Antibacterial, Aphrodisiac, Bronchitis, Cough, Liver problems, Menstrual Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Basketary, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Hedges, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
CROSSANDRA infundibuliformis
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Crossandra, firecracker flower
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Crossandra
In French
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Spanish
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Greek
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Polish
Kolokazja
Crossandra
In Latin
Colocasia
Crossandra
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Scrophulariales
Family
Araceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Crossandra
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Season and Care of Taro and Crossandra
Season and care of Taro and Crossandra is important to know. While considering everything about Taro and Crossandra Care, growing season is an essential factor. Taro season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Crossandra season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Taro is Loam, Sand and for Crossandra is Loam while the PH of soil for Taro is Acidic, Neutral and for Crossandra is Acidic, Neutral.
Taro and Crossandra Physical Information
Taro and Crossandra physical information is very important for comparison. Taro height is 30.00 cm and width 30.00 cm whereas Crossandra height is 40.60 cm and width 25.40 cm. The color specification of Taro and Crossandra are as follows:
Taro flower color: White and Green
Taro leaf color: Dark Green and Ivory
Crossandra flower color: Orange and Orange Red
- Crossandra leaf color: Green and Dark Green
Care of Taro and Crossandra
Care of Taro and Crossandra include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Taro pruning is done and Crossandra pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers and Remove dead leaves. In summer Taro needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Crossandra needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.