Species taro
lush-green leaves with light-green veins and midribs on light-green stems and red-brown branches

taro

Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii'

Also Known As - coloyam,elephant's ear,elephant's ear
Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii') is an amazingly productive tropical vegetable plant. It is native to Southeast Asia and is highly valued for its edible underground corm and leaves. With its stunning blue-green leaves and distinctive "ears" shaped like elephant ears, it is definitely an eye-catching plant. Its leaves, shoots, and stems provide excellent nutrition—they're high in fiber, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium. Its corm has a nutty taste and a velvety texture. Taro requires minimal care to produce an abundance of edible parts in just a few months. Once established, it can happily be grown in perennial beds or in containers. With its beauty and abundant yields, taro is a must-have for any garden.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Division

Hardiness Zone:

8 - 10

Flowers:

Yellowish-white Flowers

Sun:

Filtered shade, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Acidic, Bog, Humus rich

Fruits:

green,purple,pink,white Fruits Ready In Fall

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Moderate

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

watering

Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii') should be watered regularly, but lightly. During the growing season (April to September) water once per week and water deeply enough that some of the moisture soaks into the root zone. Make sure the soil never completely dries out, but never let the soil become soggy either. During the dormant season (October to March) reduce watering frequency to every other week. It is also beneficial to lightly mist the foliage every few days.

sunlight

Taro needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day. If grown in Northern climates, it is beneficial to provide taro with some form of supplemental light in order to get the best growth. In the Southern climates, it should be given late morning and early afternoon sunlight since the hottest and most intense sunlight will be during the middle of the day. If it is grown indoors, position the plant near a bright, south-facing window and rotate it occasionally for even sun exposure.

pruning

Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii') should be pruned once or twice a year, in either spring or in the early months of summer. The amount of pruning required will largely depend on the size and shape of the plant. Smaller specimens should be pruned more lightly, removing just the stem tips or any overly long stems. Larger plants may benefit from more extensive pruning, removing entire stems and leaves that are diseased or damaged. Pruning also helps promote bushier growth, providing more abundant harvests of early taro roots. Be sure to sterilize pruning tools (including sharp scissors or pruning shears) before and after using them to avoid spreading disease.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii' is usually between July and September.

Starts Flowering

Taro typically starts flowering in July.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Colocasia esculenta 'Blue Hawaii' is usually between July and September.

Hardiness Map