Colocasia esculenta also known as Taro, its corms used as a root vegetable in tropical areas.
I must have been growing Colocasias for nearly 10 years now. I once had several different species / varieties but now, largely due to failure to overwinter, I just have the basic Colocasia esculenta form. (This year I shall try some different varieties.) A cold winter and late Spring in 2009 may be the reason that my plants did not achieve quite so large leaves as usual this year.
They are still one of my favourite plants, are easy to grow and their huge leaves give a tropical effect. I grow them in sun and shade but when growing in sunshine they need a lot of water.
Photo above: Colocasia esculenta growing with (left to right): Beschorneria yuccoides, Colocasia esculenta, Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' and Chamaerops humilis (European Fan Palm) – August 2009
The photographs above and below show Colocasia esculenta growing amongst other tropical type plants in sunny positions. The plants in both photos have overwintered in situ without protection. Indeed in the bed pictured above they have spread to a point where they become a bit of a nuisance. The main plant or corm puts out runners from which a new corm forms at the tip, this new corm will either produce new foliage the same summer or remain dormant through the winter to put up new leaves the following Spring.
Photo below: Colocasia esculenta growing with Ricinus communis and Melianthus major – November 2009
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