Elephant's ear is a tuber-based plant with a very tropical look. It grows to six feet tall (and some varieties top eight feet or more), adding a dramatic look to the garden with massive leaves up to two feet wide and three feet long. All elephant's ear are tolerant of a wide range of conditions--sun or shade and a well-drained site, but especially loving damp, aquatic conditions. Use in containers with mixed plantings or as an accent plant in the garden. Hardy to USDA Zone 7.
Selected cultivars:
There are many cultivars on the market, ranging from those with green leaves to purple stems to those with variegated foliage.
'Black Magic' has showy, purplish-black leaves. Hardy to 0 degrees F.
'Nancy's Revenge' has a creamy-white mid-stripe.
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