Colocasia esculenta
taro
A tuberous, evergreen perennial to 1.5m in height, with long-stalked, heart-shaped or arrow-shaped, rich-green leaves with 60cm blades on metre-long stalks. Grown as a staple food in tropical Asia
Size
Ultimate height
1鈥�1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5鈥�10 yearsUltimate spread
1鈥�1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
笔辞辞谤濒测鈥揹谤补颈苍别诲pH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
South鈥揻acing or East鈥揻acing or North鈥揻acing or 奥别蝉迟鈥揻补肠颈苍驳
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1BBotanical details
- Family
- Araceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Colocasia can be deciduous or evergreen, tuberous-rooted perennials with arrow-shaped or rounded leaves, often prominently veined; flowers are minute, on a spadix held within a small white spathe, but are seldom produced in cultivation
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Trop. E Asia
How to grow
Cultivation
Under glass, pot up tubers in peat-free potting compost. Keep in bright, filtered light and high humidity. Water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly when in growth. Keep just moist in winter. Keep tubers dry and frost-free when dormant. Requires 21 degrees minimum to stay evergreen
Propagation
Propagate by division in winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
- Architectural
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids and glasshouse whitefly
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Colocasia esculenta
taro
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