Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Succulent
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Southern Africa
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
10-12
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
White, Green
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Red
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Green
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Succulent
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
Late Spring
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
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
-
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Butterflies
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
अरवी
Elephant Bush
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Elephant Bush
In French
Colocasia
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Colocasia
elefante Bush
In Greek
Colocasia
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Colocasia
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Kolokazja
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Colocasia
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arales
Caryophyllales
Family
Araceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
Aroideae
Portulacarioideae
Importance of Taro and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Elephant Bush 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 Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Elephant Bush
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 Elephant Bush 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 Elephant Bush have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.