Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Melanesia, Australia
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Umbrella plant
Amate
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Green
Red, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Red, Purple
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Ivory
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green, Ivory
Red, Purple
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
Elliptic
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
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
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
Not Available
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
All-Purpose 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
Not Available
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
Birds
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
Dermititis
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
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
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Root
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Octopus Tree
In Hindi
अरवी
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Octopus tree
In French
Colocasia
arbre Octopus
In Spanish
Colocasia
árbol pulpo
In Greek
Colocasia
χταπόδι δέντρο
In Portuguese
Colocasia
Octopus árvore
In Polish
Kolokazja
Ośmiornica drzewo
In Latin
Colocasia
polypus ligno
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Araceae
Araliaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Schefflera
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
Not Available
Subfamily
Aroideae
Aralioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Taro and Octopus Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Octopus Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Octopus Tree 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 Octopus Tree is Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis and Stomach pain. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Octopus Tree has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Octopus Tree
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 Octopus Tree 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 Octopus Tree have Dermititis respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Octopus Tree has showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Octopus Tree is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Octopus Tree facts and facts of other plants too.