Illustris Colocasia

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-5 Feet

Mature Spread

1-3 Feet

Wow! Elephant Ear (Colocasia) never disappoints with its huge, heart-shaped leaves and contrasting venation. Illustris is a dramatic Colocasia esculenta variety with a deep purple and black hue that both catches the eye with its singularity and provides a backdrop for bright blooms to shine. If you’re looking for a large show-stopping plant for a pond garden or a consistently wet area of your landscape, Illustris is for you! Plus, it is adaptable as a houseplant and the tubers can be overwintered so you can enjoy its beauty year after year.

Illustris Elephant Ear grows up to 5’ tall and 3’ wide, and the dark foliage has an upright growing habit that supports its large, majestic leaves. This large stunner looks fabulous when planted in a big container alone or as a tall “thriller” in a combination planting. The deep, dark leaves provide the perfect backdrop for showing off the colorful blooms and green foliage of other plants. The Humane Society of America says that Colocasia plants can be toxic to pets. Do not plant these in an area where a pet might want to nibble on them.

Illustris Colocasia Care

Illustris Elephant Ear thrives in partially sunny conditions with wet or soggy soils. This makes them a perfect water feature or pond plant. Keep the soil constantly wet, or plant them in an area that doesn’t dry out.

Illustris Elephant Ear is adaptable as a houseplant and the tubers can be stored for replanting in the spring. If you have space indoors to bring the large potted plant inside for the winter, it makes an excellent houseplant. Make sure it has indirect sunlight, peat-rich soil and plenty of humidity. Try placing it on a pebble mat or near a humidifier to provide the humidity it needs to thrive.

The tubers can also be stored over the winter and replanted in the spring. Before overwintering the tubers, allow the frost to kill the top of the plant and then cut off all of the stems. Then, dig up the tubers and clean the soil off of them. Wrap them in newspaper or pack them in dry peat moss. Label the tubers and store them in a cool, dark place between 35-45°F. Do not allow them to freeze.

Illustris Colocasia Spacing

These large plants need space! Elephant Ear containers must be at least 12” wide to allow room for growth. When planting in the ground, allow up to 36” space. They can be planted as close as 12” to provide a thick screen or hedge.

SKU:

COLIL