Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Eastern Africa
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Impatients balsamina, Impatients hawkeri, Impatiens nolitangere
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Damp Places, Damp shady woods, Forest margins, Roadsides, tropical environments, Waste areas, waterways
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
10-15
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
12 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
White, Green
White, Red, Purple, Pink, Magenta, Rose, Salmon, Coral, Peach, Burgundy
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green, Burgundy, Crimson, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green, Burgundy, Crimson, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green, Burgundy, Crimson
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Light Green
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Oblong elliptic
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
No pruning needed
Cut away fading foliage, Cut or pinch the stems, Remove branches that rub together, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads, Remove the old foliage
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Aphids, Downy mildew, Stem rot
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Shade areas
Flowers
Insignificant
Yes
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
Single, Double
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Not Available
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Not Available
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Demulcent, Gastrointestinal disorders, Nutritive, Skin irritation
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for bedding in gardens
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
IMPATIENS walleriana
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Busy Lizzy, Impatiens, balsam, sultana
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
wallenana
In French
Colocasia
wallenana
In Spanish
Colocasia
wallenana
In Greek
Colocasia
Απασχολημένος Lizzy Φυτών
In Portuguese
Colocasia
wallenana
In Polish
Kolokazja
wallenana
In Latin
Colocasia
Impatiens Walleriana
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Araceae
Balsaminaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Not Available
Subfamily
Aroideae
Not Available
Importance of Taro and Busy Lizzy
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Busy Lizzy. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Busy Lizzy 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 Busy Lizzy is Demulcent, Gastrointestinal disorders, Nutritive and Skin irritation. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Busy Lizzy has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Busy Lizzy
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 Busy Lizzy 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 Busy Lizzy have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Busy Lizzy has no showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Busy Lizzy is flowering. You can compare Taro and Busy Lizzy facts and facts of other plants too.