Heres a new one for you. I saw these growing last week in some gardens in Mexico while we were there. I tried to get some seeds (Thats a joke as the corms look like half sized cocanuts) but we coulnt find any anywhetre in the whole of mexico City and that is a big search!! nearly 100 square miles and nobody could provide any propogated specimens. Anyhow i came back to England and on the way home from shopping in Morrisons i stopped off at Wilkos to get some new Pea canes for my green tomatoes that are growing well and I could not believe it there were two seeds or half sized cocanuts (Thats what they look like) of Elephants ear in the exotic section. after spending 2 weeks travelling around Mexico City without success I couldnt believe my eyes, so anyhow i bought them both. the problem is the instructions on how to grow them were very vague if not non existant to say the least so if anyone knows how I can get the best out of these lovely tubers please will they let me know???? ManyThanks Nath
I suggest you look for the corms of Colocasia esculenta. There are many variations to the species but the big plants commonly called Elephant Ears are generally that species, Alocasia odora, or one of several large Xanthosoma species. The corms appears to describe either Colocasia or Alocasia. All are aroids. http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Colocasia esculenta large pc.html Before you stop at the first photo and say this isn't what you are seeking, scroll down. The species has well over 100 faces.
I just consulted with my good friend Alfonso de la Parra who lives west of Mexico City. Apparently in Spanish you are seeking a Xanthosoma species. This is Alfonso's response, "A popular common name for the Xanthosoma (sp) is Hoja Elegante 85% call them that and 15% Oreja de elefante Hoja Elegante= Elegant leaf Oreja de elefante= Elephant ear"
Thats is true, the older people generally call them Oreja de Elefante or Elephant ears but the younger generation in Xochimilcho where most of the plants are sold as it seems to be endless streets of plant shops and garden centres and nurseries call them Hoja elegante or Elegant Leaf. I will look through the link that you sent me with interest so thanks for that. I just need to find out how best to care for them and also how long it will take for the tubers to sprout. Then it would be good to know how quickly they grow too. The packet did say that they are Alocasia, but omotted to say what variety so I guess I'll find that out once they start to grow, its always interesting to see a mystery unravel as they get larger when you don't know quite what you have. I believ that there are an extensive range of varieties too from what I have read so far, and some that you wouldnt want the cat chewing on either. Anyhow I'll let you know how I get on. Nath
The larger Alocasia often sold as Elephant Ear is Alocasia odora, but there are others. Xanthosoma sagittifolium is also commonly sold with that common name, but the most common is Colocasia esculenta. Colocasia esculenta has a wide range of leaf shapes and is one of the most confusing plant species for collectors and gardeners since one species has so many different blade shapes and sizes. All can produce a corm but the most commonly sold are Alocasia odora and Colocasia esculenta. In Cuba the most popular would be the Xanthosoma since it is used as a food crop. This link might help your decide which leaf shape you are seeking: http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Elephant Ear.html I'm not sure where you can find them in England but you should try ethnic food stores. These are commonly used as food in ethnic cooking for SE Asian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, South American and Central American countries. The corms are frequently sold in those stores and if you pot them they will quickly produce new growth. In nurseries in South Florida the corms can bring $10 U.S. but in an ethnic store they can be bought for just a few dollars. All require bright light and damp conditions to thrive.
Thanks for that, I'll check it out once the tubers start growing and try and match them up. I wonder what they call the tubers that they sell for food in the ethnic stores you mentioned, I'll bet its not by their Latin name or called Elephant Ear fruit or anything like that. Would you happen to know. I was amazed when I looked at the link you sent me to see just how many different varieties there are of Colocasia, interesting to learn that we shouldnt really call them Elephant Ears at all with such a varied mxiture belonging to several family groups. I will certainly be better informed for future reference when I look to obtain more. I have had contact from a Lady here in the uk on the BBC Gardeners World forum who has very successfully grown Colocasia in her Garden, but she isnt sure of which variety either. I'll keep you posted. Nath
Depending on the culture and the species being sold the common names used in food stores include Taro, Dasheen, Dachine, Dalo, Eddo, Eddoe, Edda, Eddy Root, Coco Yam, Kalo, Callaloo, Poi, Katchu, Malanga, Yautia, Tannia, Mangarás,Cocoyam, Tajer, Tanier, Taioba, Chou Caribe, and Cascamote. You might want to print a list to take with you since it appears every culture that grows these plants for food has their own name for the corm. And by the way, scientifically they are not tubers. They are known as corms.
Hi Photopro, I just thought that I'd let you know that out of my two corms, one has sprung into life and given me to healthy baby Alocasia's around 5 inches high. I was surprised by the second one in the same part quite away from where I planted the corm, Its a large pot as I had in mind the size of the plant whan I planted them. The second plant is way of about a foot away at the side of the pot, so I suppose they must create suckers in the same way as Musa's do. Anyhow I'm thrilled to bits that its growing so well, but a bit dissapointed that the other corm in an even larger pot is a no show. Do they normally take so long to shoot or do you reckon I've got a dud and should consign it to the compost heap? Nath
