Colocasia esculenta 'Black magic' (Taro, Elephant ear)

Array ( [0] => Array ( [id] => 486 [is_published] => 1 [websiteID] => 5 [url] => /landscaping/bullet-proof-landscape-plants.php [page_status] => Published [number_of_ads] => 1 [can_use_editor] => 1 [last_modified_date] => 2013-09-18 00:00:00 [last_modified_by] => Alan [checked_for_duplicate_content] => [title] => Bulletproof landscape plants [heading] => Bulletproof landscape plants [meta_description] => Not all plants are equal. Many require the soil and climate (amongst other things) to be 'just right'. The plants described in this article are the ones that deserve the title of 'bulletproof' and are a good starting point for an easy-care garden. [article_category_1] => Landscaping [article_category_2] => [article_category_3] => [article_category_4] => [article_category_5] => [business_category_1] => Landscaper [business_category_2] => Garden Maintenance [business_category_3] => Garden Supplies [business_category_4] => Garden Designer [business_category_5] => Garden Tools [number_of_google_mrecs] => 1 [show_google_ad_bottom_of_page] => 1 [show_get_quotes_top_of_page] => 1 [show_get_quotes_rhs_of_page] => 1 [show_directory_search_widget] => 1 [show_trending_content_widget] => 1 [show_facebook_widget] => 1 [show_further_reading_section] => 1 [show_sponsors_section] => 1 [show_top_article_ad] => 1 ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 154 [is_published] => 1 [websiteID] => 5 [url] => /landscaping/green-wall.php [page_status] => Published [number_of_ads] => 2 [can_use_editor] => 1 [last_modified_date] => 2013-09-10 00:00:00 [last_modified_by] => Alan [checked_for_duplicate_content] => [title] => Green walls (or Vertical Garden) [heading] => Green walls (or Vertical Garden) [meta_description] => Learn how to create an amazing vertical garden wall using a variety of plants including herbs. [article_category_1] => Landscaping [article_category_2] => [article_category_3] => [article_category_4] => [article_category_5] => [business_category_1] => Landscaper [business_category_2] => Nursery [business_category_3] => Garden Designer [business_category_4] => Landscape Architect [business_category_5] => [number_of_google_mrecs] => 1 [show_google_ad_bottom_of_page] => 1 [show_get_quotes_top_of_page] => 1 [show_get_quotes_rhs_of_page] => 1 [show_directory_search_widget] => 1 [show_trending_content_widget] => 1 [show_facebook_widget] => 1 [show_further_reading_section] => 1 [show_sponsors_section] => 1 [show_top_article_ad] => 1 ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 454 [is_published] => 1 [websiteID] => 5 [url] => /gardening/growing-banksias.php [page_status] => Published [number_of_ads] => 10 [can_use_editor] => 1 [last_modified_date] => 2013-09-16 00:00:00 [last_modified_by] => Alan [checked_for_duplicate_content] => [title] => Growing Banksias [heading] => Growing Banksias [meta_description] => Learn how to grow Banksia in your garden. [article_category_1] => Gardening [article_category_2] => [article_category_3] => [article_category_4] => [article_category_5] => [business_category_1] => Landscaper [business_category_2] => Nursery [business_category_3] => Garden Designer [business_category_4] => Landscape Architect [business_category_5] => [number_of_google_mrecs] => [show_google_ad_bottom_of_page] => [show_get_quotes_top_of_page] => [show_get_quotes_rhs_of_page] => [show_directory_search_widget] => [show_trending_content_widget] => [show_facebook_widget] => [show_further_reading_section] => 1 [show_sponsors_section] => 0 [show_top_article_ad] => 1 ) [3] => Array ( [id] => 129 [is_published] => 1 [websiteID] => 5 [url] => /landscaping/garden-walls.php [page_status] => Published [number_of_ads] => 2 [can_use_editor] => 1 [last_modified_date] => 2014-04-28 00:00:00 [last_modified_by] => Angela [checked_for_duplicate_content] => [title] => Choosing a garden walls in 6 easy steps [heading] => Choosing your garden wall in 6 easy steps [meta_description] => Learn about the various types of garden walls and how to select one that suits your requirements. [article_category_1] => Landscaping [article_category_2] => [article_category_3] => [article_category_4] => [article_category_5] => [business_category_1] => Landscaper [business_category_2] => Nursery [business_category_3] => Garden Designer [business_category_4] => Landscape Architect [business_category_5] => [number_of_google_mrecs] => 1 [show_google_ad_bottom_of_page] => 1 [show_get_quotes_top_of_page] => 1 [show_get_quotes_rhs_of_page] => 1 [show_directory_search_widget] => 1 [show_trending_content_widget] => 1 [show_facebook_widget] => 1 [show_further_reading_section] => 1 [show_sponsors_section] => 1 [show_top_article_ad] => 1 ) )

Plant description

Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic' is a tender herbaceous perennial plant with striking, large, dark purple-black arrow shaped leaves. It likes a sunny to partly shaded position, and does best in a moist soil with a high organic content.  Brighter light will result in deeper colouring. Tolerates a wet soil, so is good for pond plantings and rain gardens.  It is frost tender, but in cooler areas it be grown in a container and moved to a sheltered position in winter. It grows from an underground rhizome or tuber, so can resprout if the foliage is damaged by cold or dryness, and will form a clump. A great foliage contrast plant, and gives a tropical feel to the garden.

Propagation is by division of the rhizomes.

All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Additional plant information

Flowers

Flower colour: yellow
Flowering season: spring summer

Plant size

Maximum height: 2.5 metres
Minimum height: 1 metres

Maximum width: 1 metres
Minimum width: not specified

Sunlight, frost & salt tolerance

This plant will tolerate full or partial sunlight.
Light frost tolerance.
Plant is not salt tolerant.

Fauna attracting?

Not specified.

Climate

This plant species will grow in the following climates: temperate, subtropical, tropical.

Soil types & conditions

Loam: wet, moist.

Clay: moist.

Sand: wet, moist.

Soil pH: 5.5-7.5

Miscellaneous information

Planting season: Any.

Types of fertiliser: Good general purpose fertiliser.

Find a nursery       Search for another plant