Colocasia esculenta 'Heart of the Jungle' – Purple-Backed Foliage for Sun

'Heart of the Jungle' Elephant's Ear

Colocasia esculenta 'Heart of the Jungle' (kol-oh-KAY-shah ess-kew-LEN-tah) features a demure eggshell finish and a dark purple underpinning that make its foliage special.

Growing Conditions & Care

This grand elephant's ear puts out leaf after leaf if given full sun and moist soil. 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. Offspring shoots can be transplanted.

Potential Problems

Leaf edges burn if soil dries out too often. If tubers are kept too wet during winter storage, they may rot. Keep tubers and peat moss slightly damp, never wet.

Quick Reference

• Height: 4 ft.
• Spread: 1–3 ft.
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Moisture: Medium to wet
• Maintenance: Moderate
• Uses: Containers, foliage accent
• Type: Tropical