Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia
-
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Alternanthera reineckii
Alternanthera sessilis
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Alternanthera bettzickiana
Alternanthera caracasana
Number of Varieties
200400
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-119-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Red, Purple, Pink, Burgundy
Shape
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Round
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Requires regular watering, 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
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
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
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
-
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
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
Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Whole plant
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
ALTERNANTHERA 'Raspberry Rum'
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Alternanthera
In Hindi
अरवी
Gudrisag, Garundi
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Alternanthera
In French
Colocasia
Alternanthera
In Spanish
Colocasia
Alternanthera
In Greek
Colocasia
Alternanthera
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Alternanthera
In Polish
Kolokazja
Alternanthera
In Latin
Colocasia
Alternanthera
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Caryophyllales
Family
Araceae
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Alternanthera
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
-
Subfamily
Aroideae
Gomphrenoideae
Number of Species
1027
1
27800
👆🏻