Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
-
Southeastern Asia
Types
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Number of Varieties
400200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Grassland
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
-
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Dark Green, Ivory
Shape
Leaf Shape
Round
V-Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
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
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Allergy
-
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Alternanthera
Elephant Ear, Taro
In Hindi
Gudrisag, Garundi
अरवी
In German
Alternanthera
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Alternanthera
Colocasia
In Spanish
Alternanthera
Colocasia
In Greek
Alternanthera
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Alternanthera
Colocasia
In Polish
Alternanthera
Kolokazja
In Latin
Alternanthera
Colocasia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Arales
Family
Amaranthaceae
Araceae
Genus
Alternanthera
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Gomphrenoideae
Aroideae
Number of Species
2710
1
27800
👆🏻