Taro Plant

[Neel]

I just got this plant from a family friend. In India they use the leaves and cook them to make a dish. I think it is a type of Colocasia esculenta

but none of the pics I see online or on ebay look exactly like it. the stems are purple to black. I was looking to get more plants in case these don't make it....I've tried them before without success although several people grow them fine in Southern California. This time i'm giving them tons of water because that's what i've been reading.

Anyone know the exact species or where they might have them?

[Neel]

I just got this plant from a family friend. In India they use the leaves and cook them to make a dish. I think it is a type of Colocasia esculenta

but none of the pics I see online or on ebay look exactly like it. the stems are purple to black. I was looking to get more plants in case these don't make it....I've tried them before without success although several people grow them fine in Southern California. This time i'm giving them tons of water because that's what i've been reading.

Anyone know the exact species or where they might have them?

[Tropicalken]

If you don't get a reply here, post your question on Dave's Garden in the Aroid section. There are two Elephant Ear specialists that post there who can identify different types quite readily. One is Lauri Ann who hybridizes these and the other is Brian Williams who sells many through his website and e-bay store.

Ken

[John Case]

They may be C. esculenta ' Fontensia' but they look smaller than that. Fontenesia has very long purple black stems and the leaves are glossy green/purple.

[Neel]

If you don't get a reply here, post your question on Dave's Garden in the Aroid section. There are two Elephant Ear specialists that post there who can identify different types quite readily. One is Lauri Ann who hybridizes these and the other is Brian Williams who sells many through his website and e-bay store.

Ken

Thanks. I checked out that section but it won't let you post unless you have a paid subscription.

[Wai`anae Steve]

It's not taro. The point on kalo as we say in Hawai`i points down. Elephant Ear point up. Though I've never seen an elephant with it's ears pointing up

[aussiearoids]

A Whyanbeel Elephant Ears , self sown seedling of a cross between alba and portei maybe .

[gcyao]

If you don't get a reply here, post your question on Dave's Garden in the Aroid section. There are two Elephant Ear specialists that post there who can identify different types quite readily. One is Lauri Ann who hybridizes these and the other is Brian Williams who sells many through his website and e-bay store.

Ken

Thanks. I checked out that section but it won't let you post unless you have a paid subscription.

Ken,

Try the Aroid-L, we also have many Aroid experts there.