Black Elephant Ear Plant

Performs best in filtered sun or part shade in organically rich, moist to wet soils. Provide a sheltered location to protect the decorative leaves from strong winds. Elephant Ears love water and nutrients. They require regular watering, particularly during dry summer periods.

Can black elephant ears take full sun?

Black Magic Elephant Ear prefer moist soil. In fact these plants can even grow in wet conditions and low ponds. These plants thrive in full sun to part shade. Some shade is recommended in zone 10.

Do black elephant ears come back every year?

Most elephant's ears are perennials and will come back every summer in the Lower, Coastal, and Tropical South. Some are perennials in the lower part of the Middle South. They like the soil to be relatively dry in winter.

What are the black elephant ears called?

The large green leaved giant, grown around the world for food, is also used as an ornamental in the landscape.It is known as the “black elephant ear plant” or taro.

Can black elephant ears live indoors?

Sunlight: Your elephant ears will thrive in brightly lit rooms indoors and partial shade outdoors. However, the leaves can be sensitive to intense sun, so be wary of any burning or bleaching on the leaves.

How long do elephant ear plants last?

Special Note: Begonia tubers gradually get better each year for about 8 years, and then die. Replace with newly purchased tubers. Lift: Before hard frost as the leaves decline (typically October). Special Note: Storage works well for 2-3 years, after that corms will begin to decline and you will need to buy new corms.

Can I leave my elephant ears in the ground?

Hardiness Zones 7-11 In these Hardiness Zones, your Elephant Ears can stay in the ground but should be covered to protect them throughout the winter months. Let the stems of your plants die back naturally with the frost. Cutting them can lead to rot. Cover your plants with chopped-up leaves and lawn grass.

Why do elephant ear plants cry?

Water when the soil starts to feel a little dry. If your Elephant Ear plant gets too much water, it will let you know by “weeping” or dripping water from the tip of the leaf.

How often do you water black elephant ears?

Water your Elephant Ear per week, especially during the growing season. Above-average humidity is ideal for your Elephant Ear plant. Elephant Ear prefers temperatures between 65°F and 75°F.

Do elephant ears like sun or shade?

Sun or Shade: Elephant ears will grow in sun or shade. If you put them in a hot, sunny location, make sure they get a little shade during the middle of the day. Zone: Elephant ears are tropical plants. In zones 9-11 they can be grown outdoors year-round.

How do you winterize elephant ears in the ground?

Once the first frost has arrived you will need to cut the stems of your elephant ear plant down to 6” in height. Then gently dig the tubers from the ground. Be careful not to cause any damage as this could impact their survival rate. Damaged tubers are much more likely to rot over the winter months.

Will elephant ears multiply?

Planting Elephant Ear Plants Elephant ears reproduce by division of corms, which come from their tubers. Not all cultivars available today produce tubers, but you can easily propagate those that do by cutting the tuber into pieces, each with a corm on it, similar to the eyes of a potato.

Are black elephant ears invasive?

This species naturalizes readily in wetlands in mild climates and is considered an invasive species along the Gulf Coast. In cooler climates elephant ears are grown for their large leaves.

Are black elephant ears poisonous?

Elephant ear plants are indoor or outdoor plants with very large, arrow-shaped leaves. Poisoning may occur if you eat parts of this plant.

How big do black elephant ears get?

Elephant Ears Black Magic is one of the most spectacular Colocasia plants ever introduced. Its dusty solid purple-black leaves grow up to 2 feet long. Black Magic grows to a giant clump up to 5-6 feet tall with an equally wide spread. Prefers sun to partial shade.

Are elephant ears toxic to touch?

Elephant Ear Plant Safety The leaves and stems are the most toxic parts of the plants. Even touching them can cause skin irritation and itching, and if you get the sap in your eyes, your eyes will sting and burn for several hours.

What do you do with potted elephant ears in the winter?

Potted Plants Potted elephant ears plants survive winter well when left in the dirt inside their containers. Move the pots to a frost-free spot where they aren't exposed to rain so the soil in the pot remains dry during dormancy.

Are elephant ears toxic to dogs?

This plant may be nice to look at, but it can be toxic to your dog. In fact, it can even be fatal if not treated right away. If your dog eats any part of the elephant ear plant, the first symptom you might see is also the deadliest; a swollen airway leading to inability to breathe.

Should I cut off damaged elephant ear leaves?

Damaged growth on herbaceous or nonwoody plants such as cannas, elephant ears, birds-of-paradise, begonias, impatiens, philodendron and gingers can be pruned back to living tissue. This pruning is optional unless the damaged tissue is oozy, mushy, slimy and foul-smelling, in which case it should be removed.

Should I cut off Brown elephant ear leaves?

Pruning Elephant Ears Drooping leaves can be cut off with a sharp blade. Yellowing or brown leaves can be cut off at the stem. Disinfect the blade with each cut to prevent the spread of disease. This will give the plant more energy to put towards new growing leaves.