- Botanical name: Colocasia esculenta
- Common name: Taro
- Family: Araceae
- Plant Type: Perennial, Evergreen
- Key features:
- Dramatic foliage
Taro, Colocasia esculenta, is a tropical plant grown primarily as a vegetable food for its edible corm, and secondarily as a leaf vegetable. It can also be grown for its immense, spectacular foliage, adding a little bit of the tropics to your conservatory or garden.
Tender, Colocasia esculenta is best grown under glass, but may be moved outdoors to a sunny patio in summer. For best results plant the corms in a large container and keep well watered, misting foliage regularly to boost humidity levels. Keep out of direct sunlight. Water regularly and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly when in growth.
Although evergreen, taro foliage is likely to die down is temperatures dip below 21°C.
Harvest the tubers in autumn, when the foliage starts to die down. Lift the roots, which can be boiled or fried like potatoes. The leaves can be harvested all year round but don’t strip the plant of foliage.Â
All parts of the plant are poisonous if eaten uncooked, and may cause skin irritation.Â
How to grow Colocasia esculenta
-
Plant size
100cm height
60cm spread
-
Aspect
North facing, east facing, south facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Partial shade
- Hardiness: Tender
- Soil type: Clay / heavy / moist / boggy
- Plant care: Needs regular watering in pots
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Divide |
J
Do not Divide in January |
F
Do not Divide in February |
M
Do not Divide in March |
A
Do not Divide in April |
M
Do not Divide in May |
J
Do not Divide in June |
J
Do not Divide in July |
A
Do not Divide in August |
S
Do Divide in September |
O
Do Divide in October |
N
Do not Divide in November |
D
Do not Divide in December |
| Harvest | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
J
Do not Harvest in January |
F
Do not Harvest in February |
M
Do not Harvest in March |
A
Do not Harvest in April |
M
Do not Harvest in May |
J
Do not Harvest in June |
J
Do not Harvest in July |
A
Do not Harvest in August |
S
Do Harvest in September |
O
Do Harvest in October |
N
Do not Harvest in November |
D
Do not Harvest in December |
Colocasia esculenta and wildlife
Colocasia esculenta has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Colocasia esculenta poisonous?
Colocasia esculenta can be toxic.
Toxic to Cats
Toxic to Dogs
Toxic to People
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
Plants that go well with Colocasia esculenta
