Taro, or elephant ear, is a tender herbaceous perennial in the Araceae (arum) family with a clumping growth habit. Native to eastern Asia, it grows from a corm. This corm provides a staple food worldwide, sometimes known as the “potato” of the tropical world. The species name esculenta derives from the Latin for edible, or good to eat. The plant grows best in part shade or filtered sun and moist, rich soil. It should not be allowed to dry out and should be protected from strong winds. The plant may spread and be divided much like other perennials with storage organs. Taro is not known for its flowers. It is more widely known for its very large and sometimes ornately colored foliage, which adds a smooth texture to the landscape. This plant gives a tropical look in warm planting zones at the edge of the understory of a tree or in a border. It may also be grown as a specimen plant. It can also be grown as a houseplant. Alternatively, it could be used as a potted plant outside during warmer months and brought indoors for cooler months. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. More information on Colocasia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Leaves are very large (up to 3 ft.). They are heart-shaped to arrow-shaped with prominent veins. The apex is obtuse while the base is somewhere between cordate and auriculate. The petiole comes out from the center of the leaf. There is a wide variety of colors and patterns.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Flower form
Spadix
Flower detail
Rarely flowers. White or yellow spadix with a greenish or yellow spathe.
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
India to Southern China and Sumatera
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Roots
Edibility
Poisonous until cooked. Poisons neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water. Taro root used in Southeastern Asian cuisine. Use salted water and boil for at least one hour. They are rich in vitamins A and C and they have more protein, phosphorus and calcium than a regular potato. Their starch is easily digested so it is often used in infant formulas as a first baby food.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Traditionally used medicinally for the treatment of digestive disorders.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Pond; Riparian
Landscape theme
Rain Garden; Water Garden
Design feature
Accent; Specimen
Garden tags
#water garden #houseplant #poisonous #bulb #division #full sun tolerant #large leaves #showy leaves #interiorscape #rain garden #wet soils tolerant #ebh #ebh-g #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #problem for children #spadix #partial shade tolerant #corm #edible #landscape plant sleuths course #perennial #th-sight #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #HS303
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Wet Soil
Particularly resistant to
Deer and rabbit resistant
Propagation
Division
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing can result from eating parts of this plant. Causes an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue. All parts of the plant are poisonous unless cooked first.
Toxic principle
Calcium oxalate crystals
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Seeds; Stems