Wild, Wonderful Aroids Part Two - Elephant Ears, Alocasia, Colocasia and Xanthosoma - Page 4
© Marge Talt
'Black Magic' was imported into the US by California's Walter Pagels, a former editor of the Water Garden Journal and member of the IWGS Hall of Fame, who, according to Tony Avent, found it in a botanical garden in the Philippines. Tony says that it has proved to be reliably hardy to 0ºF (-17ºC) in his trials, although it can be slow to return from dormancy. Am I brave enough to try this outside over winter???.
There are many named cultivars of Colocasia being offered today. While in Raleigh, North Carolina this summer, I took photos of some that are now on my wish list. Colocasia esculenta 'Yellow Splash' is one of them.
If you like variegated foliage, this one is for you.
I have not been able to find any specific information about this plant. It was growing in Alan Galloway's border and, while not tiny, was not as tall as mine growing in the mud hole.
Also in Alan's garden was C. esculenta 'Burgundy Stem', which is now on my lust list. I need this plant.
This one can also get six feet (1.82 m) tall, with leaves up to three feet (.91 m) long. The leaves are green with a slightly hazy purple cast. If it flowers (which I have yet to see on either of mine), the are yellow and about a foot tall (30 cm). Tony Avent says they smell like papaya. This one sends out runners, so I am guessing it may be dryland type.
The stems are extraordinary - like a lacquered eggplant.
All of these Colocasia are hungry plants who will perform best in highly organic soil in sun or part shade.
Most of them seem to be hardy in the ground from zone 7b south - at least they are being grown in the ground with little protection in Raleigh, NC.
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