This vigorous perennial has upright foliage and an edible tuber that forms a clump with spreading runners. It has erect fleshy glossy dark green heart-shaped leaves with a blackish stem and the flowers appear in a spadix during summer.

Hardiness zones 11 to 12 

Colocasia esculenta is naturally found in tropical Asia growing in rainforests in damp to boggy sandy to peaty loams that are slightly acidic in sunny to semi shade wind protected positions and is drought and frost tender. 

Elephant's Ear is a tropical plant that is grows in small to large gardens in a moist position or around water features. In cool climates it is grown as glasshouse specimen requiring indirect light. It establishes from division in 1year and may become a weed under ideal conditions. This plant can tolerate a warm temperate climate, zone 9. ID 1247

Colocasia (kol-oh-KAY-see-uh) esculenta (es-kew-LEN-tuh)

Araceae (a-RAY-see-ee)