How Big Do Black Magic Elephant Ear Plants Get

Elephant ear plants bring to mind lush, tropical forests, adding drama to both gardens and containers. The most recognized forms have heart- or arrow-shaped leaves (often oversized) with decorative veining, inspiring the common name elephant ears. No plant satisfies the craving for a taste of the tropics like elephant ear plants. Popular in Victorian times, they have enjoyed a rebirth in the recent craze for zone-denying exotic plants.

COMMON TYPES OF ELEPHANT EAR PLANTS

CALADIUM
COLOCASIA
ALOCASIA
XANTHOSOMA

Splash Of Wine Caladium, Elephant Ear, Red Spotted Leaves Proven Winners Sycamore, IL

Heart to Heart™ 'Splash of Wine'. Photo by Proven Winners.

Zones:

10-11

Exposure:

Sun or shade depending on the variety

Soil:

Moist and acidic

Height:

6 inches to 3 feet

Spread:

Up to 2 feet

Caladium plants, sometimes called angel wings, are well suited for small gardens or growing indoors. Natives of South America, they offer an incredible range of colors, including green, white and red/pink.

Learn more about growing and caring for caladiums.

Illustris, Elephant's Ear, Colocasia Proven Winners Sycamore, IL

Colocasia Esculenta Illustris. Photo by: Proven Winners.

Zones:

7-12

Exposure:

Full sun to part shade

Soil:

Medium to wet, organically rich

Height:

3 to 10 feet

Spread:

2 to 10 feet

Originating in tropical parts of Asia and India, Colocasia plants like it warm and humid. Their leaves point downward and they have edible tubers, called taro. Their size makes them a great specimen plant. If you're lucky, yours may produce calla lily-like flowers.

Warning: Certain Colocasia species are considered invasive along the Gulf Coast.

Elephant Ear, Alocasia Shutterstock.com New York, NY

Photo by: Daniel Fung / Shutterstock.

Zones:

7-11

Exposure:

Part shade to full shade

Soil:

Moist, but well-drained, organically rich

Height:

2 to 6 feet

Spread:

2 to 6 feet

Hailing from subtropical Asia and parts of Australia, Alocasia plants are sometimes called African mask plant. Unlike other elephant ears, their leaves point upwards and their tubers aren't edible.

Elephant Ear, Xanthosoma Alamy Stock Photo Brooklyn, NY

Photo by: Garden World Images Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo.

Zones:

8-10

Exposure:

Part shade/full shade

Soil:

Moist, but well-drained and organically rich

Height:

2 to 4 feet

Spread:

1 to 4 feet

Natives of tropical America, Xanthosoma plants like very warm and humid weather. Like Colocasia, the tubers of Xanthosoma are edible. This type of elephant ear is less common for growning in home gardens than the other types.

Love interesting foliage? JOIN 95,000 other plant lovers who learn more about plants, landscape design, and garden problem solvers each week.

ELEPHANT EAR PLANT CARE

High drama and bold texture are the signature benefits of showcasing elephant ears in a garden or container. Growing them is simple — they like filtered sun or shade and rich, moist soil. They're grown from tuberous rhizomes and can reach impressive sizes quickly.

Zones:

Fully hardy in Zones 10 to 11. Elephant ears will only truly thrive in warmer areas similar to their native humid climates of Southeast Asia, and with daytime temperatures of 70 to 85F, and nights no lower than 60F. They can be grown in cooler areas, but will need to be replanted each year.

Overwintering:

In colder zones, the tuberous rhizomes can be dug up and stored over winter.

After a frost, do the following:

Cut back foliage
Dig up rhizomes
Allow to dry for a few days
Store in an open container with peat moss or dry potting soil barely covering the rhizome
Keep them cool (45 to 55 degrees), and dry

For winter protection outdoors, cover the base of the plant with 4 to 12 inches of mulch.

Exposure:

Most prefer filtered sun or shade, but some tolerate full sun. In general, green types can take higher light levels; darker-leaved ones need more filtered light or shade.

Soil:

Elephant ears need rich soil that is moist (not saturated), but well-drained. Most don't like wet feet, though a few are tolerant of wet conditions—like the big-leaved colocasias you might see in water gardens. A general rule is big, green elephant ears are practically indestructible and can tolerate variable moisture conditions; dark-leaved types will suffer if over watered and can stay dry for several days.

Watering:

To prevent disease problems, water in the morning so they go into the night dry. If possible, water from below at the root zone rather than from above, to keep water off the leaves.

Fertlizer:

They're not heavy feeders. Apply a slow-release fertilizer at planting time, following package directions. If foliage shows yellowing, it's probably a micronutrient deficiency. A fertilizer with micronutrients can be applied, or sprinkle Epsom salts around the base of each plant on a monthly basis.

ELEPHANT EAR VARIETIES TO GROW

Their rapid growth creates a show even during a short growing season, making them worthy as one-shot annuals of benefit to northern gardeners. But among the 70 or so species and their cultivars, there are small, medium, and large sizes; leaf shapes from wide hearts to slim arrowheads; colors accentuated with bright veining and spots; and textures from slick and glossy to thick and waxy. While their use in gardens has given them their current cachet, many also make good houseplants.

Swipe to view slides

'Tickle Me Pink' caladium - Photo by: Proven Winners.

Photo by: Proven Winners.

HEART TO HEART™ 'TICKLE ME PINK' — Buy now from Proven Winners
Caladium hortulanum

This caladium with pink, white, and green foliage can be grown in sunny to shady locations, as well as indoors as a houseplant. Grows 15 to 20 inches tall and 8 to 10 inches wide.