Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
Not Available
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
Not Available
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Not Available
Habit
Clump-Forming
Not Available
Minimum Height
Not Available
Minimum Width
Not Available
Flower Color
White, Green
Not Available
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Not Available
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Not Available
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Not Available
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Light Green
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Not Available
Growth Rate
Fast
Not Available
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Not Available
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Not Available
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Not Available
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Not Available
Repeat Bloomer
No
Not Available
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Not Available
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Not Available
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Not Available
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Not Available
Pruning
No pruning needed
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Does not require fertilizer once established
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Variety of soil types
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
Single
Showy Fruit
No
Not Available
Edible Fruit
No
Not Available
Fragrant Flower
No
Not Available
Fragrant Fruit
No
Not Available
Fragrant Leaf
No
Not Available
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Not Available
Showy Foliage
Yes
Not Available
Showy Bark
No
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Bold
Not Available
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Not Available
Self-Sowing
No
Not Available
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Not Available
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Not Available
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Not Available
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Not Available
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
CRYPTANTHUS
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Erdstern
In French
Colocasia
Terre étoile
In Spanish
Colocasia
estrella de la tierra
In Greek
Colocasia
γη αστεριών
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Estrela da terra
In Polish
Kolokazja
Gwiazda ziemi
In Latin
Colocasia
terra, stella
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Family
Araceae
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Cryptanthus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Not Available
Subfamily
Aroideae
Bromelioideae
Season and Care of Taro and Earth Star
Season and care of Taro and Earth Star is important to know. While considering everything about Taro and Earth Star Care, growing season is an essential factor. Taro season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Earth Star season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Taro is Loam, Sand and for Earth Star is Not Available while the PH of soil for Taro is Acidic, Neutral and for Earth Star is Not Available.
Taro and Earth Star Physical Information
Taro and Earth Star physical information is very important for comparison. Taro height is 30.00 cm and width 30.00 cm whereas Earth Star height is Not Available and width Not Available. The color specification of Taro and Earth Star are as follows:
Taro flower color: White and Green
Taro leaf color: Dark Green and Ivory
Earth Star flower color: Not Available
- Earth Star leaf color: Not Available
Care of Taro and Earth Star
Care of Taro and Earth Star include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Taro pruning is done No pruning needed and Earth Star pruning is done Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Taro needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Earth Star needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.