There's nothing more tropical-looking for your garden than Elephant's Ear! It's botanical name is Colocasia esculenta, but it's also known as Taro Root. Pick these bulbs up cheap at your local Asian grocer, plant them after the last frost, and watch them grow huge leaves by mid-summer! These plants are heavy feeders - give them lots of water and fertilizer! There are many varieties - one of them is 'Black Magic', which has solid purple and black leaves! Mail order nurseries have them. The first hard freeze of the fall will fry them, so after the leaves shrivel, you can either dig up the bulbs to store in a dry cool place, or mulch heavily around the roots and cover with burlap and plastic.
Other subtropicals to look for and grow are Eucalyptus and Fatsia. Eucalyptus is semi-hardy in D. C., and can add a great accent to your yard. Fatsia japonica is nearly unknown in D. C., however it is a very attractive plant, and can be a real conversation piece.
At right is a picture of an Elephant's Ear in Rockville, MD. |
