Elephant Ears

Create an instant focal point in the garden, screen an unwanted view, or extend a bold welcome to visitors with elephant ears.

Enjoy the bold beauty these tall stemmed, giant leafed plants provide. You can grow them in containers or right in the garden. Select one or more of the many available varieties. Grow elephant ears outdoors year-round in zones 9 to 11. Or use them as annuals in colder zones of 4 to 8 then move them indoors for winter.

Give them a space of their own or combine them with other foliage plants such as caladiums, coleus, larger begonias, trailing sweet potato vines and other annuals. The fine leaves of ornamental grasses, such as the shade tolerant Japanese forest grass and sedges, contrast nicely with the elephant ears’ bold leaves.

Keep the soil moist and fertilize regularly throughout the growing season.

A bit more information: Plant the baseball-sized tubers (often called bulbs) outdoors after all the danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the tuber and plant it pointy side up. The top of the tuber should be about an inch below the soil surface.