Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
-
Number of Varieties
2002
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-118-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
11-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
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
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
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
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
-
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
अरवी
Red Cardinal
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Red Cardinal
In French
Colocasia
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Colocasia
Cárdenas
In Greek
Colocasia
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Kolokazja
Red Cardinal
In Latin
Colocasia
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Fabales
Family
Araceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
1010
1
27800
👆🏻