Life Span
Annual
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Brazil
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Abutilon Hybridum
Abutilon Megapotamicum
Abutilon Palmeri
Number of Varieties
200200
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Grassland, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-118-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green
Yellow, Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
-
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water Deeply
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Prune in spring, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Red blotch
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
Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Showy Purposes
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
Diarrhea, Lung Problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Whole plant
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
ABUTILON megapotamicum
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Indian mallow or Velvetleaf
In Hindi
अरवी
Abutilon
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Abutilon
In French
Colocasia
Abutilon
In Spanish
Colocasia
Abutilon
In Greek
Colocasia
Abutilon
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Abutilon
In Polish
Kolokazja
Abutilon
In Latin
Colocasia
Abutilon
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Malvales
Family
Araceae
Malvaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Abutilon
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Malveae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Malvoideae
Number of Species
10200
1
27800
👆🏻