Several coinage of tropic flora in theAraceae , or arum , folk that have outsize heart - shape foliage are known as " elephant ears . "
While these are flowering plant , it is rarefied to see an elephant auricle plant with flowers outside of its native habitat and even rarer for indoor plants to flower . Instead , these species are usually grown as foliation plant for their immense leaves .
Tip
The flowers of elephant capitulum plant resemble calla lilies .
Characteristics of Elephant Ear Flowers
Plants in three discrete genera are known normally as elephant ears . These plants develop from sarcoid , comestible secret roots . These elephant ear bulbs are known ascorms .
Like other plants in the arum family , elephant capitulum flowers consist of a spadix , which is a peak spike heel called an inflorescence that is covered in midget flowers , and a bract called a spathe that take care like a leaf and surround the spadix . These flower are evocative ofcalla lily , which are also in theAraceaefamily .
Elephant ears plant rarely flower outside of their aboriginal habitat .
Types of Elephant Ears
have ’s go over each genus of the plant known as elephant ears and some of the species that belong to to each .
Colocasia
Colocasiaspecies are aboriginal to Asia and other Pacific islands .
- Wild Taro :* * unwarranted taro ( Colocasia esculenta , geographical zone 8 to 11 ) , the fleshy , stiff solution of which is used in cooking in tropical constituent of the worldly concern , is sometimes consult to as elephant ’s spike . All part of this plant are toxic when raw due to the comportment of calcium oxalate crystals .
The flowers of this works are a yellowish white color . On the rare occasion that the plant peak in cultivation , the peak are usually hidden by the orotund leaf .
Wild dasheen has become invasive in many part of the U.S.
- Giant Elephant ’s Ear :* * The jumbo elephant ’s auricle ( Colocasia gigantea , zones 8 to 10 ) has flowers similar to those of wild taro . When it does bloom , this elephant ear blooms from April to June .
Alocasia
There are approximately 80 species of plant in the genusAlocasia , and they are also have it away as elephant capitulum . These plants are aboriginal to Asia and Australia and are closely related to plant in theColocasiagenus .
These plants can survive winter only in USDA hardiness geographical zone 10 and 11 . Outside of this grasp , these plants can be grown as foliage houseplants .
- Giant Taro :* * Like taro , the giant taro ( Alocasia macrorrhizos , zones 9 to 11 ) is also cultivated for its edible root . This species blossom throughout the class in its native range and has light-green flowers . It is also known as just elephant ears .
Xanthosoma
plant in the genusXanthosomaare aboriginal to South America have also been given the common name " elephant ears . "
- Tannia :* * Native to South America , tannia ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium , zones 8 to 10 ) , has flowers that consist of a dark-green - white spathe that smother a white spadix . Bloom time is in the summer in July and August , however , it is very uncommon for this flora to bloom .
you may also grow tannia in a container kept outside in ardent winter and overwintered indoors . Tannia has become an invasive coinage in Florida .
