Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Fern
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Australia
Types
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
Polystichum solitarium
Habitat
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Dappled Shade
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-11
9-11
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Clump-Forming
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Flower Color
White, Green
-
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
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
Saw-tooth like
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Shade, 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
All year
Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes
Divison, From Rhizomes, Spores
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
when new, water every week
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 Shade, Partial shade
Pruning
-
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
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought, Dry Conditions, Light Frost, Shade areas, Variety of soil types
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Bugs, Snails
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
Air purification, Food for animals
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
Poultice, Sore throat, Tonsillitis
Part of Plant Used
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Leaves, Root, Stem
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
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA micholitziana
Polystichum munitum
Common Name
Elephant Ear, Taro
Swordfern, western swordfern
In German
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
Sword Fern
In French
Colocasia
Epée Fern
In Spanish
Colocasia
helecho espada
In Greek
Colocasia
ξίφος φτέρη
In Portuguese
Colocasia
espada Fern
In Polish
Kolokazja
Miecz Fern
In Latin
Colocasia
Fern gladio
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Pteridophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Filicopsida
Order
Arales
Polypodiales
Family
Araceae
Dryopteridaceae
Genus
Alocasia
Polystichum
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
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Importance of Taro and Swordfern
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Taro and Swordfern. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Taro and Swordfern 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 Swordfern is Poultice, Sore throat and Tonsillitis. Taro has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss while Swordfern has beauty benefits as follows: Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser and Weightloss.
Compare Facts of Taro vs Swordfern
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 Swordfern 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 Swordfern have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Taro has no showy fruits and Swordfern has no showy fruits. Also Taro is not flowering and Swordfern is not flowering . You can compare Taro and Swordfern facts and facts of other plants too.