Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'
Cocoyam, Taro, Dasheen, West Indian kale, Elephant's ear, Eddo, Green taro, Yam
Also known as Colocasia antiquorum 'Black Magic'
- Height × spread
- 1.2m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A spectacular plant with giant leaves that start off green, mature to black and stay that colour for the whole season. This has heart shaped leaves and the rear lobes curved back beyond the stem making a pronounced V shape. The leaf surface may be smooth or ruckled slightly, like canvas under tension. The whole plant is sculptural in effect with its leaves held at different height, all angled slightly outwards. Give these lots of moisture and plant it in fertile soil in a sunny warm spot. It is not frost hardy and could not winter outside in the British Isles. It is poisonous if eaten.
- Foliage colour
- Black, Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Horizontal
- Height
- 1.2m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Water garden, Small scale garden, Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous)
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 10C & above (RHS H1b)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- bright spot, no direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 10C minimum temperature
- Use for
- Architectural
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten; skin & eye irritant
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food
Using a balanced houseplant fertiliser, feed at alternate waterings.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Don't water while dormant
Keep the compost or the plant tuber, rhizome or bulb completely dry when the plant is dormant.
The plant requires a rest period in order to thrive. Watering at this time may prevent dormancy, or may induce rot or disease.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Houseplant compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality house plant compost.
Indoor temperature · Planting
10C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a bright spot, no direct sun
Give this a bright position away from the direct sun, especially direct sun at the height of the day. (Direct sunshine is too hot and can burn the leaves.) Move the plant to a brighter position in the room during winter and early spring.
Found in
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Cocoyam, Taro, Dasheen, West Indian kale
Colocasia Phantom = 'Cophanto'
Elephant's ear
Colocasia esculenta
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Colocasia esculenta
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