Native to the steamy jungles of South East Asia, is a popular sight in many tropical and warm temperate climates. Boasting leaves that can reach up to 2 metres in length, this plant adds an exotic touch to any home or garden with its oversized “elephant ear”-like foliage.
Alocasia macrorrhiza, more commonly known as Elephant Ears or Giant Taro, is the perfect houseplant for those without a lot of light and plenty of space. Its large leaves are an adaptation to low light levels and direct sunlight must be avoided in order to maintain the foliage’s green color. This plant makes a great addition to any home and is easy to care for: just place it in a saucer constantly topped up with water, dust the good leaves regularly if you can do it carefully and discard any older or damaged leaves.
The Giant Taro is considered to be a hardy exotic, as it has evolved the ability to tolerate cooler climates (Like anyone living in our unpredictable UK climate). Although it may not survive the winter in more temperate areas, this plant can be overwintered indoors, or grown in containers and brought outdoors during summer months. If you have a warm, sheltered spot to grow your Giant Taro, with regular applications of seaweed fertiliser and planted in a deep rich soil, it can make a wonderful addition to any garden and home.
Although this plant thrives inside as a houseplant, it can be kept outside with the root ball brought in during the winter. Although I have a large plant that has survived two winter so far outside in a large pot & all I have done is cut off the leaves (which will freeze and die during the first front if you don’t) and covered with straw. Smaller plant I bring in but this monster has to rough it out & still put up a very impressive display of new leaves each summer.
Insect infestations can often be tackled easily by wiping the leaves with a soapy sponge to get rid of pests without resorting to using insecticides or Biological Control methods.
The Giant Taro is a great tropical indoor plant option for those looking to bring some of the tropics into your living space. It’s fast growing and highly adaptable, making it an easy addition to your home. Although its foliage will need to be cut back in winter only if it is outside. If you have access to a conservatory, well lit room or spacious office, the Giant Taro’s warmth and splendour will surely make it an essential addition…
Try one in your home, find a place you don’t use very often that is out of direct sunlight and give it a go. We have one in a bath we hardly ever use which turns out to be a perfect place for it outrageously large leaves to unfurl every few weeks…
Checkout the link to see this plants native and introduced distribution which is South America, Africa, India, Asia & Australia.
Some more interesting facts from livingrainforest.org The giant Taro has the larges un-split leaf in the world. The Elephant Ears corm is a staple food for over 300 million people all overt he world, even though it is poisonous to humans if eaten raw, extended boiling is used to remove the toxin calcium oxalate.
