Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, Polynesia
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Gold Dust Croton, Banana Croton
Number of Varieties
2001200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Along Railroads, Pastures, Roadsides, Sandy areas, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-119-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green
White, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Chartreuse, Lime Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Chartreuse, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
White, Yellow, Purple, Orange, Light Green, Gold, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Crimson, Dark Red, Copper, Bronze, Orange Red, Ivory
Shape
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Long Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Cold climate
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Prune in spring, Remove branches that rub together
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Butterflies, Insects
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Dizziness, Eczema, Itchiness, Skin irritation, Skin rash, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Improve hair condition, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Bronchitis, Gallbladder Diseases, Gout, Joint pain, Malaria, Nerve pain, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Seeds, Whole plant
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
CODIAEUM variegatum
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Rushfoil, Croton
In Hindi
अरवी
क्रोटोन प्लांट
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Kroton
In French
Colocasia
Croton
In Spanish
Colocasia
Croton Planta
In Greek
Colocasia
Κρότωνα φυτών
In Portuguese
Colocasia
cróton
In Polish
Kolokazja
Kroto roślin
In Latin
Colocasia
Planta Croton
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Malpighiales
Family
Araceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Croton
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Crotoneae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
1065
1
27800
👆🏻