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
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Grassland
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
White, Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
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
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Round
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
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 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 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
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
-
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
-
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification
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
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
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
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Caryophyllales
Family
Araceae
Amaranthaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Alternanthera
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
Aroideae
Gomphrenoideae
Importance of Taro and Alternanthera
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Alternanthera. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Alternanthera 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 Taro is Aging, Laxative and Weight loss whereas of Alternanthera is Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and Antioxidants. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Alternanthera has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Alternanthera
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 Taro vs Alternanthera 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 Taro are Swelling in mouth and Throat itching whereas of Alternanthera have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Alternanthera has no showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Alternanthera is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Alternanthera facts and facts of other plants too.