Colocasia esculenta Tea cup - Elephant Ears

The Colocasia esculenta ‘Tea cup’, also known as Elephant's Ear or Taro, is a perennial herbaceous plant with a tropical charm for decorating cool and humid areas of the garden or aquatic settings. This remarkable variety produces slender, flexible stems, supporting large green leaves on the top, bronze underneath, shaped like a cup, hence the name 'Tea Cup'. They fill with water during rains, and when the lamina is full, the leaf tilts. Excess water then drains out through the tip, creating an effect similar to that of a teacup. Although not very hardy, it can withstand brief frosts down to -8°C in open ground, protected by a thick mulch.

The Colocasia esculenta is also known scientifically by the following synonyms: Colocasia antiquorum var. euchlora, Caladium esculentum, Arum esculentum, Colocasia antiquorum, Colocasia antiquorum var. esculenta; and more commonly under the name True Taro or Elephant's Ear. Belonging to the Araceae family, this rhizomatous perennial plant is related to Arums and Monstera deliciosa. Probably originating from India and tropical Asia, the Colocasia esculenta was introduced several centuries ago in tropical regions of South America and Oceania, and more recently in tropical Africa. Cultivated in all tropical regions, this plant is prized for its thickened corm, a tuber called taro, eddo, or Chinese potato, with white to pink flesh, a dry texture, and a taste similar to sweet potato. The leaves can be prepared like spinach.

The Colocasia 'Tea cup' is an imposing perennial herbaceous plant, emerging from a tuberous rhizome that forms a scaly corm, covered with a thick skin. At maturity, the plant frequently reaches over 1.30 m in height by 1 m in diameter. Its remarkable foliage is peltate, heart-shaped, with a smooth and shiny texture, in a superb olive green strongly marked by purple and violet veins. The lamina of the leaf can measure up to 60 cm long by 40 cm wide, curving to form a cup structure. It is supported by a long, flexible petiole with shades of reddish-brown, sheathing at the base. The leaf surface allows water to slide off, possessing good water-repellent properties. During its growth, the plant produces few shoots, but its root thickens year by year, maintaining a compact form. By removing an old leaf, two new ones appear. The vegetation is affected by frost, but the plant regenerates in spring, emerging late from its nearly dry stump. Flowering is quite rare and occurs on mature plants, in the form of pale yellow spathes, usually in summer.

The Taro Tea cup thrives in rich, fertile soils, in humid environments with a sunny or partially shaded exposure. In the garden, it enhances the surroundings of a pond or finds its place in a pot on the terrace, or even indoors, in a cool corner, sheltered from direct sunlight. It stands out as a central element in a contemporary or exotic arrangement. This plant pairs wonderfully with arums, banana trees, Gunnera, or tree ferns. To simplify its cultivation in colder areas, it is recommended to plant it in a pot, in order to shelter it in a conservatory during winter. Some gardeners extract the stump after the first frost, keep it dry in a dark space during winter, then replant it in April-May in a mixture of garden soil and compost.