Alocasia Species, Upright Elephant Ear, New Guinea Shield, Taro

I live very close to the ocean, on the southern portion of the NC coast, and have had some problem keeping this plant happy. The reason i...Read Mores that we have such well-draining soil and we don't get a lot of rain, at least not enough to keep this plant growing. I have to give it supplemental water almost daily, especially during the summer.
I definitely think it's worth it though.

mandikat is mistaken about his plant's identity. all parts of this plant (Allocasia wentii) are poisonous. some people may call this taro...Read More but it is not the same taro that produces an edible tuber (Colocasia esculenta).

From the remote mountains of New Guinea, Alocasia wentii is one of the very few alocasias that we have found to be winter hardy in our Zo...Read Morene 7b climate. The glossy bronze-green leaves reach 1' in length as they adorn this tightly clumping elephant ear. As the breeze blows, you will enjoy the contrasting metallic-purple leaf backs.

I bought this root at a super market produce counter as edible taro for less than a dollar. It's now in it's fifth year and has spread ...Read Moreto cover a four foot square area. It's in partial shade by a pond but not actually in the water. I mulcn it for winter with a thick layer of water lettuce which has to be removed from the pond in fall anyway. It was cheap and is very undemanding with a very impressive leaf display.