Colocasia esculenta Jack's Giant

Colocasia esculenta 'Jack's Giant' is a cultivar of Elephant Ear closely related to the species, with giant leaves. This plant, which exceeds the size of a man when grown in the ground, seems to be struck by gigantism and attracts attention with its disproportionate, shiny, elongated heart-shaped foliage. More hardy than it seems, this tropical perennial can withstand at least -8°C (17.6°F) in the ground, under a thick protective mulch. It is an absolutely stunning plant, essential for creating a lush and exotic decor in the garden, on a terrace or a patio.

Colocasia esculenta Jack's Giant belongs to the arum family, just like the Ethiopian arum and the philodendron. Probably originating from India, its ancestor, the Colocasia esculenta, also known as Edible Taro, spread a long time ago in the tropical regions of South America and Oceania, and later in tropical Africa. This rhizomatous perennial plant is a cousin of Arums and Ipomoeas, and it belongs to the arum family. The 'Jack's Giant' cultivar is an imposing herbaceous perennial plant that develops from a tuberous rhizome, forming a scaly corm covered with thick skin. The mature plant often exceeds 2m (7ft) high and 1.80m (6ft) in diameter. It is composed of magnificent bright bluish-green leaves, in the shape of an arrowhead, that can vary in darkness, highlighted by chartreuse green along the edges, and veined with a lighter green. The leaf blade can reach 1m (3ft) long and 80cm (32in) wide, carried by a long light green petiole, sheathing at the base. The leaf surface allows water to slide off with its good water-repellent properties. During its growth, the plant produces very few shoots, but the root grows larger every year, allowing it to remain compact. If you remove an old leaf, two new ones take its place. The vegetation is destroyed as soon as it freezes, but the plant regrows from its crown in late spring, if kept almost dry.

In the garden, on the terrace, or in the house, Colocasia esculenta 'Jack's Giant' is an impressive yet easy-to-grow plant. It appreciates a sunny or semi-shaded exposure and proves to be hardy under thick protective mulch, which is quite an achievement for a tropical plant! It stands out as a focal point in contemporary or exotic decor, whether planted on a terrace in a large container or along the edges of a pond, in favourable climates. This voracious plant gets along well with arums, banana plants, Gunnera, or tree ferns, whose magnificence recalls ancient forests. Some gardeners lift the crown after the first frost, overwinter it in a dry, dark place, and then replant it in April-May in a mixture of garden soil and compost.

True taro is consumed in Africa, China, Polynesia, and several other parts of the world. Its tubers are rich in starch and its young leaves are eaten like spinach.