Elephant ears' secret: They're easy to grow
The huge, exotic-looking leaves of elephant's ear can add a lot of spice to an otherwise ordinary-looking garden. Non-gardeners would never guess that a plant so dramatic is also very easy to grow.
Actually, there are several different types of plants that share the common name elephant's ear. Close relatives in the same family, each grows from a bulb-like tuber. All members of the family sulk if planted out too soon, but when the weather turns hot, they make up for lost time. By the time I got around to planting my tubers this year, they were already sprouting in their indoor storage sack.
The cultural needs of the various kinds of elephant's ears differ, making it easy to find the perfect plant for your pot or plot.
If you have a constantly wet spot, the type of elephant's ear known also as taro or colocasia esculenta will prove to be extremely easy. Its gigantic heart-shaped leaves measure as much as three feet long and almost as wide. You can choose varieties with green or velvety black leaves, some with exotic markings. Others boast attractive red, violet or blue-green stems.
Elephant's ears in the colocasia group grow well in full sun or partial shade. The sunnier the spot, the more water they need. You can plant them in the ground, in a pot, or even in a bog or water garden, with an inch or two of water over the top of the soil.
Plant the tubers in rich soil with lots of compost or other organic matter mixed in. It takes a lot of nutrients to grow such big leaves, so it helps to fertilize regularly.
Elephant's ears in the alocasia group need more shade to keep from burning. While they do require moist soil, this type needs good drainage and won't like growing in a bog.
Many alocasia elephant's ears have exotic silver or white markings on huge, glossy leaves shaped like hearts or shields.
Caladiums, yet another relative that sometimes goes by the name elephant's ear, are a great choice for full shade. Their bold, heart-shaped leaves offer colorful markings of pink, red, white or green.
Caladiums, like plants in the alocasia group, do best with moist but well-drained soil.
Although all elephant's ears are tropical or subtropical plants that could never survive a Midwest winter, all are easy to keep from year to year by two different methods. You can grow them in pots as houseplants or allow the tops to die back before storing the tubers indoors at about 60 degrees.
Jan Riggenbach's column appears every Sunday. Write to her in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for a personal reply.