Tropical drama with elephant ears
If given a choice between a dainty pastel flower and a plant that鈥檚 seven feet tall and produces blackish-purple leaves two feet long, I鈥檒l take the latter any day. I like dramatic plants, those that almost shout, 鈥淟ook at me.鈥�
So it鈥檚 no wonder I enjoy the plant known as elephant ears. As you can see from the photo, this is a plant that鈥檚 impossible to overlook. And with the current popularity of tropicals, it鈥檚 a natural to add to that lush look in your landscape.
鈥淭ropical,鈥� of course, means it isn鈥檛 hardy everywhere. I鈥檝e grown several of in Zone 7 (no lower than zero during the winter), leaving them in the ground over winter under a thick mulch of shredded leaves. And most years, the plants returned. But I wouldn鈥檛 recommend them as cold-hardy for and lower.
Still, because elephant ears grow from tubers, they鈥檙e easy to dig up in fall and store in a warm, dry place over winter.
At this point, some of you may be asking, 鈥淲hy is she recommending an invasive plant?鈥� That means you live in Florida, Houston, or somewhere with a similar climate. In those areas, grow elephant ears in a large container, or block its roots much as you would those of mint (knowing that the roots grow deeper than mint鈥檚).
But for anyone who lives in an area with a real winter, the worry is more about whether the plant will return than whether it will escape and pop up all across your yard.
You鈥檒l find in several sizes, starting about four feet tall, and with green, variegated, and 鈥渂lack鈥� (deep purple) leaves.
The plants will grow in sun or shade. The hotter the climate, the more shade it needs. You鈥檒l also want to place plants with dark foliage in partial or full shade.
Elephant ears grow fast, and like most , it needs plenty of water and fertilizer. Also, like most bulblike plants, it needs good drainage.
One cultivar of elephant ears that I鈥檝e grown and enjoyed is , which grows five to six feet high and has purplish, two-foot leaves growing from maroon stems.
Talk about drama in the garden 鈥� this plant always has a leading role.
