Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Latin America and the Caribbean
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Heliconiaceae
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Humid climates, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Thicket/Colonizing
Flower Color
White, Green
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Light 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, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
-
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
Fertilize every two months
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Rats, Snails
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Salt
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Hummingbirds, Insects
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
-
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Healing
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Root, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Florist trade and landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Heliconia
In French
Colocasia
Heliconia
In Spanish
Colocasia
Heliconia
In Greek
Colocasia
Heliconia
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Heliconia
In Polish
Kolokazja
Heliconia
In Latin
Colocasia
Heliconia
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Arales
Zingiberales
Family
Araceae
Heliconiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Importance of Taro and Heliconia
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Heliconia. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Heliconia 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 Heliconia is Healing. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Heliconia has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Heliconia
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 Heliconia 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 Heliconia have Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Heliconia has showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Heliconia is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Heliconia facts and facts of other plants too.