Colocasia Dragon Heart Gigantes - Elephants Ear

Colocasia Dragon Heart Gigante's is one of the new varieties of American Elephant Ears that are very spectacular. This perennial plant seems to be struck by gigantism, with its immense heart-shaped leaves. They are green when young and gradually take on a very dark shade magnified by an almost velvety texture. More hardy than it seems, this colocasia can withstand -8°C (17.6°F) in the ground, under a thick protective mulch. It is an absolutely stunning plant at the edge of water features, essential for creating a lush setting on a terrace or patio.

Originating from India, the Colocasia esculenta, also known as 'true taro' or edible taro, spread long ago in the tropical regions of South America and Oceania, and later in tropical Africa. This rhizomatous perennial plant is a cousin of Arums and Ipomoeas and belongs to the Araceae family. The cultivar 'Dragon Heart Gigante', introduced by the American specialist in the genus Brian Williams, is an imposing herbaceous perennial plant, developing from a tuberous rhizome and forming a scaly corm, covered with thick skin. The mature plant will reach an average height of 2m (7ft) with a diameter of 1.50m (5ft). It is composed of magnificent foliage, pleated, heart-shaped, slightly elongated, in a grey-purple almost black, with a velvety finish. The leaf blade can reach a length of 90cm (35in) and a width of 70cm (28in), carried by a long chocolate-coloured petiole, sheathing at the base. The surface has good water-repellent properties. During its growth, the plant branches out from the base, allowing it to remain compact. If you remove an old leaf, two new ones take its place.

Colocasia Dragon Heart Gigante's is an easy plant to grow in the garden as well as in the house. It likes a sunny or semi-shaded exposure, and can withstand temperatures down to -8/-10°C (17.6/14°F) under thick protective mulch, which is quite an achievement for a tropical plant! It stands out as a focal point in contemporary or exotic decor, planted in a large container on the terrace or on the edge of a water feature. This voracious plant gets along well with Arums, banana trees, or tree ferns, whose magnificence recalls ancient forests.

The true taro is consumed in Africa, China, Polynesia, and in several other parts of the world. Its tubers are rich in starch, and its young leaves are consumed like spinach.