Colocasia esculenta Diamond Head - Elephant Ears

Colocasia esculenta 'Diamond Head' forms a beautiful clump of large undulate leaves in a magnificent dark and glossy purple. They slightly droop under their weight and tend to point towards the ground. The rootstock is hardy up to -10°C, the foliage disappears as soon as it freezes, but the plant regrows from the rootstock in the following spring. Outdoor cultivation is reserved for mild climates. Elsewhere, prefer planting in a pot with generous and regular watering. Lush and decorative, this variety of elephant ear will find its place in a flowerbed, a large container, or on the edges of a water feature. 

From the arum family, Colocasia esculenta, also known as Edible Taro or Taro, is a perennial species probably native to India and has naturalized in tropical regions of South America and Oceania, and later in tropical Africa. Colocasia 'Diamond Head' is an American selection from the Royal Hawaiian series, which includes disease-resistant varieties that thrive in the sun and can easily be grown in pots. It is a herbaceous perennial plant that develops from a tuberous rootstock. The mature plant reaches 1 to 1.20 m in height and 60 to 90 cm in diameter. It forms a clump of large leaves carried by long upright petioles. Its lance-shaped leaves can reach 35 to 60 cm in length. They are glossy, undulate, and dark purple with black reflections. Its summer flowering is rare, only on mature plants. It appears as a spathe and a spadix in shades of yellow-green.  

Colocasia 'Diamond Head' is a rather easy plant to grow in rich and moist soil. It appreciates a sunny or semi-shaded exposure. This tropical plant with lush purple foliage stands out as a centerpiece in an exotic or contemporary setting. Give it enough space to express its full potential. It can also be planted in a large container on a terrace or on the edges of a water feature in favorable climates. Pair this elephant ear with Canna 'Angélique' with purple-violet foliage and salmon-pink flowers, and with Dahlia paysage 'Schippers Bronze' with purple foliage and coppery coral-red flowers. Create contrast with Colocasia 'Mojito' with light green foliage dotted with purple spots.

It is a semi-hardy plant (the rootstock can withstand temperatures around -10°C). Its vegetation is destroyed as soon as it freezes, but the plant regrows, quite late in spring, from its rootstock kept almost dry and mulched in winter. In cold climates, prefer container cultivation, which is more practical for overwintering.

The tubers of true taro (Colocasia esculenta) are consumed in Africa, China, Polynesia, and several other parts of the world. They are rich in starch. Its young leaves are also edible and cooked like spinach.