Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
How can you use Elephant Ears?
🟢 Alocasias and Colocasias, or Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a touch of tropical elegance to any garden.
🟢 Striking Foliage: large, lush foliage. The leaves can be enormous, resembling the shape of elephant ears, hence the common name. The foliage is usually rich green, but there are also varieties with hues of purple, black, or variegated patterns. These vibrant leaves create a dramatic focal point.
🟢 Tropical Aesthetic: large, architectural leaves add a sense of drama and create a stunning backdrop for other plants.
🟢 Versatility: work well in containers, making them suitable for patio gardens. In larger landscapes, colocasias and alocasias can be planted directly in the ground, either as standalone specimens or as part of mixed border plantings. They can also be utilized around water features or in bog gardens since they enjoy moist conditions.
🟢 Low Maintenance: thrive in full to partial shade. Regular watering and occasional fertilization will help them grow vigorously.
🟢 Impressive Size: Some varieties can grow several feet tall, creating a stunning vertical element in the garden.
📸 Colocasia esculenta Jacks Giant: This astonishing elephant ear is well-named, it really does look like something that would grow for the giant! The foliage is absolutely massive, many feet long and wide, with a glossy texture, prominent ribbing, and a rich blue-green cast that lightens to chartreuse around the edges.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
What to plant by the pond?
Pharaoh Mask with stunning 3D effect
Mojito Elephant Ears
Colocasia vs Alocasia - what is the difference?
🛒 Shop Colocasias
#Shade_Garden
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs Colocasia
Alocasia and Colocasia
Alocasias and Colocasias, or Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a tropical exotic touch to your garden, pond, or pool area. Why are they so popular - and which one should you choose?
- 🍀 Why gardeners love Elephant Ears
- ✔️ Tropical appeal: Bold, architectural foliage creates a lush, exotic atmosphere.
- ✔️ Striking leaves: Huge heart- or arrow-shaped leaves in green, purple, black, or variegated tones.
- ✔️ Versatile placement: Ideal for containers, garden beds, water features, or borders.
- ✔️ Low maintenance: Thrive in part shade with moist soil and occasional fertilizer.
- ✔️ Big impact: Some varieties reach over 6 ft tall, adding strong vertical structure.
🍀 Alocasia vs. Colocasia - what's the difference?
- 🟢Leaf shape: Alocasia = upright, arrow-shaped; Colocasia = drooping, heart-shaped.
- 🟢Leaf texture: Alocasia = glossy; Colocasia = more matte.
- 🟢Stem color: Alocasia = green; Colocasia = often purplish.
- 🟢Light and soil: Alocasia prefers bright, indirect light and good drainage; Colocasia loves shade and wet soil.
- 🟢Cold tolerance: Colocasia is generally more cold-hardy and water-tolerant.
📚 Learn more:
- ▫️A Beautiful and Edible Delight: Colocasia antiquorum Illustris
- ▫️How can you use Elephant Ears?
- ▫️What to plant by the pond?
- ▫️Pharaoh Mask with stunning 3D effect
- ▫️Mojito Elephant Ears
- ▫️Colocasia vs Alocasia - what is the difference?
🛒 Go big with giant leaves!
#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Why this Elephant Ear is breaking the internet: the hottest houseplant of the year
Alocasia macrorrhiza Variegata - Variegated Elephant Ears
- 🍀 This is Alocasia macrorrhiza Variegata - Variegated Elephant Ears - the tropical showstopper that collectors can’t stop talking about.
- 🍀 One look at those giant leaves splashed with creamy white and deep green, and you'll see why it's always sold out. Every leaf is different - some half white, some marbled like abstract art. Some leaves can be completely white!
- 🍀 Unlike most elephant ears, this one stays a bit more compact, which makes it perfect for a big decorative pot on a patio or shady corner. It still has that bold, jungle look but behaves better in containers.
- 🍀 Give it bright, filtered light, warmth, and humidity. Keep the soil moist but never soggy. The white parts of the leaves can burn easily, so skip harsh direct sun.
- 🍀 Here's a tip: if you see a solid green shoot, cut it off - it can take over and make the plant lose its variegation. That’s because this plant’s variegation is a chimera, meaning it can shift from leaf to leaf.
- 🍀 Feed it lightly during the growing season. The white parts can’t make food for the plant, so it relies on the green sections to do all the work. A little boost with Sunshine Robusta or Green Magic controlled release fertilizer help it stay balanced without overloading the roots.
- 🍀 This plant’s got everything: beauty, rarity, and a bit of mystery. No wonder it’s the one everyone wants to show off!
🛒 Get yours before it’s gone or add to wishlist
📚 Learn more:
- ▫️How can you use Elephant Ears?
- ▫️Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs. Colocasia - which one is better?
- ▫️A Beautiful and Edible Delight: Colocasia antiquorum Illustris
- ▫️What to plant by the pond?
- ▫️Pharaoh Mask with stunning 3D effect
- ▫️Mojito Elephant Ears
- ▫️Colocasia vs Alocasia - what is the difference?
#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Date:
Six reasons to grow
Elephant Ears in your garden
Alocasias and Colocasias, commonly known as Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a touch of tropical elegance to any garden. Here's why they are often considered great additions:
1. Striking Foliage: One of the most captivating features of colocasias and alocasias is their large, lush foliage. The leaves can be enormous, resembling the shape of elephant ears, hence the common name. The foliage is usually rich green, but there are also varieties with hues of purple, black, or variegated patterns. These vibrant leaves create a dramatic focal point in any garden setting.
2. Tropical Aesthetic: Colocasias and alocasias have a distinct tropical vibe that can transform your garden into a lush oasis. Their exotic appearance lends itself well to creating a tropical-themed garden or adding a bold accent to other styles of landscaping. Their large, architectural leaves add a sense of drama and create a stunning backdrop for other plants.
3. Versatility: These plants can be grown in various garden settings. They work well in containers, making them suitable for patio gardens or balcony displays. In larger landscapes, colocasias and alocasias can be planted directly in the ground, either as standalone specimens or as part of mixed border plantings. They can also be utilized around water features or in bog gardens since they enjoy moist conditions.
4. Low Maintenance: Once established, colocasias and alocasias are generally low maintenance plants. They thrive in full to partial shade, preferring a consistently moist soil. Regular watering and occasional fertilization will help them grow vigorously. While they are generally hardy, some varieties may require protection during colder months or overwintering in frost-prone regions.
5. Impressive Size: With proper care and favorable growing conditions, colocasias and alocasias can reach impressive sizes. Some varieties can grow several feet tall, creating a stunning vertical element in the garden. Their size and presence make them ideal for adding structure and height to planting arrangements.
6. Unique Varieties: Colocasias and alocasias offer a wide range of cultivars and species, each with its own distinct characteristics. From the classic Colocasia esculenta to the more exotic Alocasia macrorrhizos, there are numerous options to choose from. You can select plants with different leaf shapes, colors, and patterns to suit your taste and garden design.
