Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii' – Black-Stemmed Elephant's Ear for Containers

Black Stem Elephant's Ear 'Fontanesii'

Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii' (kol-oh-KAY-shah ess-kew-LEN-tah) is a chic, black-stemmed elephant's ear that looks great in containers, beds, and borders, and makes a wild addition to floral arrangements.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Elegant black stems and attractive, glossy foliage.

Growing Conditions & Care

So long as it's given ample moisture and sun, black stem elephant's ear performs well. Gardeners in cool hardiness zones may overwinter tubers indoors covered by peat moss during winter, after leaves have been desiccated by frost.

Propagation

Plant tubers when soil is consistently around 70°F. Separate offsets in spring or summer.

Potential Problems

If tubers are kept too wet during winter storage, they may rot. Keep tubers and peat moss slightly damp, never wet.

Quick Reference

• Height: Up to 6 feet
• Spread: 1–3 ft.
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Moisture: Medium to wet
• Maintenance: Moderate
• Foliage Color: Green
• Uses: Containers, foliage accent
• Type: Tropical