Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia
  
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Texas, Canada
  
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
  
Not available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
  
Open areas, stream banks, Wet Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
  
4-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
  
8-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Green
  
Blue, Lavender, Blue Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
  
Lanceolate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
  
Deer resistant, Shade areas, Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
  
Do not let dry out between waterings, Needs Very high moisture, Requires consistently moist soil
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
No pruning needed
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
  
10-10-10, Balanced liquid fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
  
Head smut, Rust, Slugs, Snails
  
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
  
Deer resistant, Shade areas, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
  
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
  
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic if not prepared properly
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
  
Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
  
Diarrhea, Dysentry, Healing, Stomach pain, Syphilis
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Bark, Flowers, Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
  
LOBELIA siphilitica
  
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
  
Great blue lobelia, great lobelia
  
In Hindi
अरवी
  
महान ब्लू लोबेलिआ
  
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
  
Great Blue Lobelia
  
In French
Colocasia
  
Great Lobelia bleu
  
In Spanish
Colocasia
  
Gran Lobelia azul
  
In Greek
Colocasia
  
Μεγάλη Μπλε Lobelia
  
In Portuguese
Colocasia
  
Grande Lobelia azul
  
In Polish
Kolokazja
  
Great Blue Lobelia
  
In Latin
Colocasia
  
Blue Lobelia
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Arales
  
Campanulales
  
Family
Araceae
  
Lobeliaceae
  
Genus
Alocasia
  
Lobelia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Aroideae
  
Lobelioideae