Royal Hawaiian Black Coral Elephant Ear

Colocasia ‘Black Coral’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7b-11 (7a with protection) Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Perennial / Tropical

Height at Maturity: 3.5-4′

Width at Maturity: approximately 3′
Spacing: 2.5-3′ for mass plantings, 6’+ for space between plants

Growth Habit / Form: Upright Clump

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: –

Flower Size: –

Flowering Period: –

Flower Type: Insignificant

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Purple Black

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: –

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Part Shade

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay), Loam, Sand (amend quick draining soil for moisture retention), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained to Wet

Soil pH: 5.5 – 7.5 (Acid to Neutral)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Rabbit

Description

Nothing says tropical more in the garden than elephant ears. While many types of elephant ears aren’t cold hardy, such as the Alocasia varieties, Colocasia varieties such as ‘Black Coral’ are dependable outdoor perennials, withstanding winter low temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also be grown in pots, which can be overwintered indoors or kept as an inside as a houseplant year round. We think Black Coral is one of if not the best yet of the Royal Hawaiian Elephant Ear Series from the breeding program of Hawaii’s Dr. John Cho. Forming a clump to 3.5 to 4 feet tall, it features the signature, enormous, heart-shaped leaves in a jet black color with attractive heavy corrugation. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, Black Coral thrives in full sun to part shade, is super heat and humidity tolerant, and prefers life on the moist to wet side. We grow it in a pot that’s submerged to water level in one of our garden ponds. Sure to be an eye-catcher and showstopper in the garden!

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 42 to 48 inches tall and about 36 inches wide, the Black Coral Elephant Ear thrives in the garden or in containers, and can even be grown year round as a houseplant. In the garden, it is ideal for use as an accent in smaller garden spaces, in groupings or as a natural hedge in larger spaces, or as a solo or combined with other moisture-loving plants in containers which can be submerged to the water level in the garden pond. A fine addition to tropical gardens, perennial gardens, water gardens and black theme gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 36 inches apart for groupings or natural hedge; 6+ feet or more apart for space between plants

Growing Preferences

Black Coral Elephant Ear is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. It prefers a consistently moist to wet soil and will even grow in standing water. Keep an eye on plants growing in containers and provide water if you see the foliage begin to wilt. Feed in spring and again in early summer with a slow-release flower food or natural or organic plant food.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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This beautiful dark elephant ear plant looks lovely mixed in with the green plants behind the pool waterfall. It was delivered in great shape and is already thriving in our triple digit heat and high humidity of SE Texas! I have also ordered varigated creeping gardenias that have had many blooms and most recently a 7 gallon Natchez White crape myrtle! Wilson Bros is a great, high quality nursery with easy-to-grow plants even for the inexperienced! I look forward to more plants from them.—————————————–Wow! Thanks for the kind words and awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

My plant arrived well packed and in good condition. I had questions about how I wanted to plant so I emailed Wilson Brothers and received an immediate reply. I planted in a location that gets sun several times a day, but is in the shade in mid to late afternoon. It is doing well.——————————————————Thanks for the awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG