Colocasia Imperial Gigante - Elephants Ear

Colocasia 'Imperial Gigante' is a recent variety of Elephant Ear, resembling a giant tropical plant. This hybrid, capable of reaching a height of over 2m (7ft) in open ground, seems to be struck by gigantism and attracts attention with the architectural design of its elongated heart-shaped, green leaves shaded with black, and a network of veins tinged with a light and vibrant green. More hardy than it seems, this perennial can withstand -8°C (17.6°F) in open ground, under a thick protective mulch. It is an absolutely superb plant near water features and essential for creating a lush and exotic setting on a terrace or patio.

Originating from India, Colocasia esculenta, also known as Edible Taro, spread long ago to the tropical regions of South America and Oceania, and later to tropical Africa. This rhizomatous perennial plant is a cousin of Arums and Ipomoeas, belonging to the araceae family. The hybrid cultivar 'Imperial Gigante', introduced in 2012 by the American specialist of the genus Brian Williams, is an imposing herbaceous perennial plant, developing from a tuberous rhizome, forming a scaly corm covered with thick skin. The adult plant often exceeds 2m (7ft) in height with an average diameter of 1.80m (6ft). It consists of magnificent foliage, darker or lighter greenish-grey, veined with acid green. The leaf can reach 90cm (35in) in length and 70cm (28in) in width, carried by a long light green petiole, sheathing at the base. The leaf surface allows water to slide off with good water-repellent properties. During its growth, the plant branches out from the base, which allows it to remain compact. If you remove an old leaf, two new ones take its place.

Colocasia 'Imperial Gigante' is an impressive plant, easy to grow in the garden as well as 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 a contemporary or exotic setting, whether planted on a terrace in a large container or on the banks of a water feature. This voracious plant gets along well with arums, banana trees, Gunnera, or arboreal ferns, whose magnificence is reminiscent of ancient forests.

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