Description
IT is a tropical plant grown primarily for its edible corms, the root vegetables most commonly known as taro. It is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated plants.
This is not a common variety. The regular green to greenish purple variety is commonly seen growing in India. It is usually planted where kitchen washing water flows off. Plants love water and wet areas. It spreads and grows well if given some fertilizer. Even without leaves can be harvested every second week.The yellow variety too is easy to grow. It is slower growing and is also less tolerant of very harsh sunlight.
When growing plants in garden soils, provide regular moisture, especially during dry summer periods, and do not allow soils to dry out. Plants may also be grown as pond marginals in up to 6 of standing water.
Plant Specifications
*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%
Common Name |
Colocasia esculenta Black Magic |
Maximum Reachable Height |
3.00 to 6.00 feet |
Flower Colour |
white |
Bloom Time |
July to August |
Difficulty Level |
easy to grow |
Planting and care
Do not prune plants in the fall. Simply cut off any dead or diseased canes.Stop fertilizing 6 weeks before the first frost but continue watering during dry autumn weather to help keep plants fortified during the dry winter.Mound, mulch, or add compost after a few frosts but before the ground freezes.
Alocasia esculata care
Also, select a site that gets full sun. For dependable blooms, plants need six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. If it, s too shady, the stems will attempt to lean towards the sun or get spindly and fall over. Most of the popular varieties prefer acidic to neutral soil, but some are lime-tolerant or prefer alkaline soils.
Sunlight |
Full Sun |
Watering |
medium |
Soil |
well-drained soil |
Temperature |
45 degrees F |
Fertilizer |
applu any organic fertilizer |
Alocasia esculata special feature
Lends a large tropical look to gardens, water margins and large containe Excellent as a specimen or in groups.
Alocasia esculata uses
Ornamental Use:
- The plant is used for ornamental purpose
Medicinal Use:
- The popularity of herbal medicine in recent times is based on the premise that plants contain natural substances that can promote health and alleviate illness
- One such plant is Colocasia esculenta Linn, commonly known as taro (English); aravi (Hindi) and alupam (Sanskrit)