We have lots of Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta), and every year they get bigger and bigger. It has been hard to keep them watered during this hot and dry summer, but most of them are still thriving. I love the big tropical looking leaves and use them throughout the garden. Last year, one of the largest clumps had blooms during the first week of October. (I didn’t know until then that they even bloomed!) Below are just two of the many bulbs we have. Click photos to view larger.
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^ This one has huge leaves and is near the bench
in a shady spot in the secret garden.
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^ One elephant ear bulb in a container with caladiums.
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You see them in the magazines and online but you never think that they’ll actually grow that large in YOUR yard. But here is proof!
Jim, the secret is to dig out and save the bulbs from year to year. Even though they are usually hardy here in zone 7, they will rot if we have a cold wet winter. We dig these bulbs out after the frost knocks down the foliage, and store them (after drying) in a cellar until the following spring. The bulbs get bigger every year — some of these are as big as a soccer ball!
-Sherry