Make room in your summer garden for the dazzling tropical beauty of elephant ears.
Even the stems deliverimpressive colors.
Plant these tuberous plants in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Credit: Steve Bender
They grow quickly, reaching their mature height in one growing season.
If you have a damp spot that could use some drama, elephant ears will answer the call.
Note that some elephant ears are invasive in some areas.
Plant Attributes
Elephant Ear Care
Elephant ears grow from tubers.
Some clump, while others spread on runners along the ground.
Elephant ears love water, sunshine, and fertilizer.
Soil
Elephant ears prefer moist, rich, fertile soil.
Mix in plenty of organic matter such as chopped leaves, peat, or composted manure.
Water
Elephant ears do best when their soil is kept moist.
Generally, the more you water and feed them, the more they grow.
Elephant ears prefer drier soil in winter, so reduce watering when they go dormant.
The plants may not be as winter hardy in wet soil.
Temperature And Humidity
Elephant ears drink up humidity.
Some varieties are perennial in the lower part of the Middle South (Zone 7b).
Tubers can be replanted in spring after the soil warms to 65F.
Or visitJust Fruits and Exotics,Florida Hill Nursery, andLogee’s Plants for Home and Garden.
Pruning
Elephant ears can be pruned to keep them healthy.
Remove yellowing or dying leaves by cutting them off at the bottom of the stem with a sharp knife.
Leaves may droop as they age.
Drooping leaves may also be cut off.
Cut the plant back once the foliage has turned brown and died.
They thrive in big pots and will work in water gardens if placed in partially submerged containers.
Overwintering
Common Pests And Plant Diseases
Elephant ears aren’t prone to manyinsect problems.
Spider mites can be controlled by spraying them away with a strong stream of water and using insecticidal soap.
For a thrip infestation, you should also remove any tall, grassy weeds in the area.
The plant will weaken and eventually die.
Damaging tubers when you dig them up can also lead to corm rot.
The blooms consist of a spath, or white or yellow folded bract surrounding a fleshy flower spike.
The flowers look much likepeace lilies, which are in the same plant family.
Elephant ears must reach maturity first, which could take 3 or more years in the ground.
Your plants might never bloom, but if they do, it usually happens in spring.
They like moist environments so they are susceptible to fungal infections and root rot.
They can be brought on by too much or too little sun, water, or fertilizer.
Check to see if any of these need to be corrected.
Too much water can cause root rot.
Check the plants roots to see if they are brown and mushy to determine if it is being overwatered.
Clean the root ball, and replant in fresh, dry soil.
If the plant looks healthy, the leaves might be drooping because they are so large.
Plant stakes can be used to support heavy leaves if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elephant ear plants live about eight years.
Rather than digging plants from the ground to overwinter in some areas, some gardeners grow them as annuals.
Since they multiply, they can be divided when they emerge every spring to generate new plants.
Elephant ears pair well with other tropical plants, so choose a variety to create a colorful garden.
Look for sweet potato vine, coleus, begonias, canna, impatiens, and caladium.
Planting a variety of colors and textures of elephant ears also makes an impact.
Native alternatives to elephant ears include Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) and pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata).
The National Capital Poison Center.Poisonous and non-poisonous plants.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Elephant ears.
University of Florida IFAS.Elephant ears.
