upside down planting elephant ear bulb top and bottom Colocasia 'Diamond Head' Elephant Ear Bulb – Wayside Gardens

upside down planting elephant ear bulb top and bottom Colocasia 'Diamond Head' Elephant Ear Bulb – Wayside Gardens'Diamond Head' is an exciting breeding breakthrough in Elephant Ears, with a new texture and distinctive dark coloration that holds even in the hottest weather. Boasting a sheen highly unusual for Colocasia cultivars, these brilliant heart shaped purple black leaves are dramatically veined, elegantly rippled, lightly ruffled along the edges, and beautifully held up and out for maximum showiness. Reaching up to 2 feet long, each leaf of this quick

'Diamond Head' is an exciting breeding breakthrough in Elephant Ears, with a new texture and distinctive dark coloration that holds even in the hottest weather. Boasting a sheen highly unusual for Colocasia cultivars, these brilliant heart-shaped purple-black leaves are dramatically veined, elegantly rippled, lightly ruffled along the edges, and beautifully held up and out for maximum showiness. Reaching up to 2½ feet long, each leaf of this quick-growing Elephant Ear is distinctive, bold, and nothing short of magnificent. The petioles (stems) of the foliage are showy, too, in deep shades of burgundy that blend well with the leaves. 'Diamond Head' reaches 4 to 6 feet high and spreads 2 to 3 feet wide in part shade, making it a bold choice for the north side of the house, a shaded foundation planting, and the shady border.

A Colocasia esculenta, commonly called taro, kalo, or elephant ear, 'Diamond Head' has an upright habit and rapid growth rate. 'Diamond Head' was introduced in 2008 by breeder John Cho of Hawaii. It is a descendant of C. 'Putih' x C. 'Black Magic,' but it outdoes both parents in color and texture. Most amazing is the glossy sheen of the foliage, a texture typically found in Alocasia but not Colocasia cultivars.

Find a consistently moist place in up to three-quarters shade and let 'Diamond Head' regale you from spring until frost! And if you would like to grow it north of its zone 10 hardiness limit, find a large container and bring it to a frost-free location to overwinter. Easy and very impressive in a wide range of settings.

Plant elephant ears outdoors in spring after soil and night temperatures are consistently above 60°F. Plant 'Diamond Head' elephant ear bulb 2 to 3 inches deep. If planting more than 1 bulb, space them 3 to 4 feet apart.