Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Annual
Type
Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom
Southeastern Asia
Types
M. v. brevipetala
M. v. collina
M. v. frozen
M. v. grandiflora
M. v. paui
M. v. verna
M. v. japonica
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Habitat
gardens, Grassland, Prairies, Suburban areas, Tropical regions
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-7
10-11
Sunset Zone
Not Available
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Mat-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Not Available
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
Light Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
No
Tolerances
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
No pruning needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Fungal Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Yes
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
No
Foliage Texture
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Allergy
no allergic reactions
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Environmental Uses
Air purification
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Medicinal Uses
Burns, Thyroid problems, tuberculosis
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Alpine, Container, Edging, Groundcover, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
MINUARTIA verna
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Irish Moss
Elephant Ear, Taro
In German
Irish Moss
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Irish Moss
Colocasia
In Spanish
musgo de irlanda
Colocasia
In Greek
Irish Moss
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Moss irlandês
Colocasia
In Polish
mech irlandzki
Kolokazja
In Latin
Irish Moss
Colocasia
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Not Available
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Arales
Family
Caryophyllaceae
Araceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Not Available
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
Not Available
Aroideae
Importance of Irish Moss and Taro
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Irish Moss and Taro. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Irish Moss 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 Irish Moss is Burns, Thyroid problems and tuberculosis whereas of Taro is Aging, Laxative and Weight loss. Irish Moss has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Irish Moss 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 Irish Moss 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 Irish Moss 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. Irish Moss has no showy fruits and Taro has no showy fruits. Also Irish Moss is flowering and Taro is not flowering . You can compare Irish Moss and Taro facts and facts of other plants too.