| Description | Produces large dark, bold leaves adding a tropical feel to the garden. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (kol-oh-KAY-see-uh)(es-kew-LEN-tuh) |
| Plant Type | All Plants, Perennial Tender |
| Hardiness Zone | 8-11 |
| Sunlight | full, part sun |
| Moisture | prefers moist to wet |
| Soil & Site | prefers slightly acidic organic soil, moist to wet |
| Flowers | seldom flowers, may produce yellow to white spadix, flowers at the base |
| Leaves | large bold, heart shaped dusty purple to black leaves, 2-3 feet |
| Stems | produces a corm that is a staple food in parts of the tropics |
| Maintenance | pruning the bottom leaves that are dying, dig the corms after the first frost, clean and store cool and dry, check periodically to see if they are dehydrating, I soak them in a pail of water for a few minutes if this happens, smaller corms dry out quicker |
| Propagation | division |
| Misc Facts | In parts of Florida the species plant has become an Exotic Invasive Pest. All parts of the Taro can cause sickness if not cooked before consumed. Sap can also irritate the skin. |
| Notes & Reference | #51-Armitage's Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials (Alan Arimitage), Floridata web site) |
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