Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Argentina, Chile
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
-
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Hardwood forests, pine woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
7-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Flower Color
White, Green
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
White, Purple, Rose, Violet, Plum, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Ovate
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Bacterial fruit blotch, Downy mildew, Gall Insects, Mites, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought, Shade areas
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Birds, Insects
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Hives, inflammation in lips, Sore Throat, Swelling in the face
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Glowing Skin, Good for skin
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Food for animals, Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Analgesic, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
For making oil, For making oil for cosmetics, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Gaultheria procumbens
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Eastern teaberry, checkerberry, American wintergreen
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
boxberry
In French
Colocasia
boxberry
In Spanish
Colocasia
boxberry
In Greek
Colocasia
boxberry
In Portuguese
Colocasia
boxberry
In Polish
Kolokazja
boxberry
In Latin
Colocasia
Burning
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Genus
Alocasia
Gaultheria
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Gaultherieae
Subfamily
Aroideae
Vaccinioideae
Importance of Taro and Boxberry
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Boxberry. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Boxberry 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 Boxberry is Analgesic, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Astringent and Carminative. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Boxberry has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Boxberry
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 Boxberry 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 Boxberry have Hives, inflammation in lips, Sore Throat and Swelling in the face respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Boxberry has showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Boxberry is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Boxberry facts and facts of other plants too.