Colocasia esculenta 'Black Coral' PP23896

Royal Hawaiian® Series

Common Name: Elephant Ear

One of the deepest black-leaved Colocasias available and certainly the darkest we offer.

If you’re looking for a focal point for the pond side or for containers, look no further than this dramatic new member of the ROYAL HAWAIIAN® Colocasia series from Dr. John Cho of Hawaii. It features huge, glossy jet black, corrugated, arrow-shaped leaves with deep blue veins on jet black stems.

At full size in the landscape, it will reach 4’ tall and short runners will appear close to the mother plant. If you grow this plant in containers, make sure it is a very large one and be sure to give it a consistent supply of moisture. This plant will drink up all you can give it and can even grow directly in shallow water.

When growing these plants in our greenhouse, they colored up nicely even under UV inhibitor plastic. This was a pleasant surprise since often purple foliage plants require direct UV exposure to bring out the darker pigment.

This plant was featured on the Martha Stewart Show in March, 2012!

Height:

3.5-4.0 Feet

Spread:

3.0 Feet

Hardiness Zones:

7B,8,9,10,11

Foliage Color:

Near-black shades

Sunlight:

Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun) Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun)

Water Requirements:

Average Water Needs Consistent Water Needs

Soil Quality:

Fertile Soil Quality

Soil Chemistry:

Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0) Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)

Critter Resistant:

Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant

Growth Rate:

Medium

Garden Style:

Asian Patio Container Eclectic Modern Water Garden

Other Features:

Bog Plant Container Attractive Foliage Specimen Focal Point

Origin:

Not Native to North America

Colocasia is an outstanding tropical plant that is often grown as an annual in colder zones. It is a moisture loving plant that needs consistently moist to wet soil to perform best and achieve its maximum size. Colocasia will also grow in shallow water near the edges of ponds or bogs. This plant prefers full sun as long as sufficient moisture and humidity are provided. In dry climates, it is better sited in partial shade. Colocasias are heavy feeders, so the soil should be enriched with humus and other organic nutrients should be provided on a regular basis. Where Colocasia is hardy, it should be mulched well in winter to protect the central tuber.

Characteristics