Elephant ears earn their name honestly — massive, heart- or arrow-shaped leaves that can grow several feet long, instantly turning any bed or patio pot into a lush, tropical focal point.
Grown from tubers, elephant ears (Colocasia and Alocasia) are native to tropical Asia and the Pacific, and gardeners in cooler climates typically treat them as dramatic seasonal annuals, digging up the tubers before frost to overwinter indoors.
Elephant ears want rich, consistently moist soil and partial shade to full sun, and they're heavy feeders that reward regular fertilizing with even bigger leaves. In zones below 8, lift the tubers after the first frost blackens the foliage and store them in a cool, dry spot over winter.
Raw elephant ear plants are toxic and irritating due to calcium oxalate crystals, though the related taro root is a staple food crop once properly cooked to neutralize the toxins.
