NetPS Page

All Seasons Home, Garden and Landscape Show Place

All Seasons Plant Finder

perennial

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear

Colocasia esculenta 'Jack's Giant'

Add To My Wish List

 
Jack's Giant Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Jack's Giant') at All Seasons Nursery

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear foliage

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Jack's Giant') at All Seasons Nursery

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  7 feet

Spread:  7 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  8

Other Names:  Cocoyam, Dasheen, Taro

Description:

A massive cultivar producing huge blue-green leaves that are a sight to behold; a tremendous garden or pondside accent for a tropical look; in colder climates it can be removed after first frost and stored in a cool dry place until spring

Ornamental Features

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its cascading habit of growth. Its attractive enormous heart-shaped leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear is an open herbaceous perennial with a shapely form and gracefully arching foliage. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear will grow to be about 7 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Jack's Giant Elephant Ear is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Garden  Container 
Applications
Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features

Disclaimer - This Plant Finder tool is an online resource representing many of the varieties that we carry over the course of the season, and is intended for informational purposes only. Inventory varies seasonally, so we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times - please contact the store directly for current availability. It does not include our entire selection of plants, so be sure to visit our store to see varieties that may not be represented on this list.


Want exclusive deals and updates? Sign up for All Seasons Newsletter

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER →
Share by: