Elephant Ear plant profile
Colocasia esculenta
A perennial flower for partial sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Elephant Ear
Start elephant ear bulbs indoors in early spring (University of Wisconsin: pot up in March), then plant outside once the weather warms, usually late May or early June. These frost-tender plants are dug, dried, and stored like cannas or dahlias after frost kills the foliage in cold zones.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Elephant Ear in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Partial sun
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zones 8a to 11bFind my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: leaf scorch, tuber rot.
Next steps
Continue with Elephant Ear
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Elephant Ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Colocasia esculenta (Dasheen, Elephant Ears, Green Taro, Taro)
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta) entry
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Supports pet-safety verdicts for dogs and cats. Checked 2026-07-18.