Elephant Ears—Not Just a Carnival Food

Donna GreenFamily and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension I love the tropical vibe elephant ears (Colocasia) add to a landscape. I purchased some bulbs from a local woman (thanks, Debbie), and have been quite pleased with the visual impact they impart. Elephant ears grow to an impressive size, and their leaf shape really does resemble the ear of an elephant - hence the name.VarietiesYou might have to order elephant ears that feature different color veins and/or stems, black leaves, or speckled leaves from an online source, but most garden centers carry the traditional, solid green type. I purchased a fully grown "banana" elephant ear on clearance from a local nursery last year and it was truly outstanding.Planting Elephant Ear bulbsGrowing elephant ear plants is easy. They prefer rich, moist soil and partial shade, but can be grown in full sun if they can catch a little shade sometime during the day. Mine are on the south side of my house and do very well there.Plant bulbs outdoors once the threat of frost or freezing temperatures has ceased. Elephant ears don't like cold soil, so give the ground a little extra time to warm up. If you don't see them popping through for a few weeks, it's because the soil hasn't warmed up enough. Bulbs should be planted about 2 to 3 inches deep, blunt (rounded) end down. Once they are planted, they are pretty much worry-free. If we get a dry spell, you might want to water occasionally. Elephant ears need consistent moisture to achieve full height.Winter CareElephant ear bulbs can't stay in the ground all year like tulips or daffodils. They should be dug up and stored before, or shortly after, the first frost hits.Cut the plant down to about two inches above the ground to allow you better access to the base. Dig carefully; start digging in a circle a foot or so from the center of the plant. Once you pop the bulb out, you may see new bulbs (babies) that you can crack off and save for new plants. Allow the bulbs to dry out for a couple of days, then carefully store in peat moss or sawdust. Over-winter the bulbs in a cool, dry spot such as a basement or crawl space.Houseplant PotentialElephant ears can be brought indoors in the fall and grown as houseplants. If you grew them in a container, this is simple to do, but if they were in the ground, you will have to dig out the plant and replant in a container. Keep the plants in bright, indirect light and the soil consistently moist, but not wet. Upright elephant ears (Alocasia—the ears point up instead of down) are primarily used as houseplants all year long.