Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern Asia
Types
-
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Number of Varieties
50200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Fuchsia
White, Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green, Ivory
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval Cordate
V-Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Container
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
From Rhizomes
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
-
Fertilizers
Fertilize every three months
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flowers
Showy
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Allergy
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Other Uses
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
HETEROCENTRON elegans
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Common Name
Spanish Shawl
Elephant Ear, Taro
In Hindi
Heterocentron
अरवी
In German
Heterocentron
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
In French
Heterocentron
Colocasia
In Spanish
Heterocentron
Colocasia
In Greek
Heterocentron
Colocasia
In Portuguese
Heterocentron
Colocasia
In Polish
Heterocentron
Kolokazja
In Latin
Heterocentron
Colocasia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Arales
Family
Melastomataceae
Araceae
Genus
Heterocentron
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Abreae
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
-
Aroideae
Number of Species
20010
1
27800
👆🏻