Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
10-11
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Pink
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Not Available
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Shape
Succulent
V-Shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
No pruning needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Allergy
no allergic reactions
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Elephant Ear, Taro
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
अरवी
In German
Elephant Bush
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Elephant Bush
Colocasia
In Spanish
elefante Bush
Colocasia
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
Colocasia
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
Colocasia
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Kolokazja
In Latin
bush elephant
Colocasia
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Arales
Family
Portulacaceae
Araceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Not Available
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Aroideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Elephant Bush and Taro
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Elephant Bush and Taro. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Elephant Bush and Taro as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat whereas of Taro is Aging, Laxative and Weight loss. Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems while Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation and Skin Problems.
Compare Facts of Elephant Bush vs Taro
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Elephant Bush vs Taro and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Elephant Bush are no allergic reactions whereas of Taro have Swelling in mouth and Throat itching respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Elephant Bush has no showy fruits and Taro has no showy fruits. Also Elephant Bush is not flowering and Taro is not flowering . You can compare Elephant Bush and Taro facts and facts of other plants too.