Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Orange, Dark Red (Ratan aboli), Yellow, Delhi Crossandra , Arka Ambara, Arka Kanaka (IIHR varieties)
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Screen Cottage and Informal Garden, Urban areas, Wild
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Green
Orange, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
-
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Water daily during growing season
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
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Balanced 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
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
-
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Agroforestry
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Antibacterial, Aphrodisiac, Bronchitis, Cough, Liver problems, Menstrual Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Basketary, 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, Cutflower, Hedges, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
CROSSANDRA infundibuliformis
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Crossandra, firecracker flower
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Crossandra
In French
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Spanish
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Greek
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Crossandra
In Polish
Kolokazja
Crossandra
In Latin
Colocasia
Crossandra
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Scrophulariales
Family
Araceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Crossandra
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Taro and Crossandra
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Crossandra. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Crossandra 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 Crossandra is Antibacterial, Aphrodisiac, Bronchitis, Cough, Liver problems and Menstrual Disorders. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Crossandra has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Crossandra
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 Crossandra 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 Crossandra have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Crossandra has no showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Crossandra is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Crossandra facts and facts of other plants too.