Illustris Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris')
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Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Araceae Family | |
Colocasia esculenta, commonly known as taro, is a tropical, perennial plant prized for its edible corms and leaves. The plant features large, heart-shaped foliage that can grow quite sizeable given the right conditions. Taro thrives in warm, humid climates and requires consistently moist, nutrient-rich soil and partial to full sun exposure. The thick, tubular stems and massive leaves of Colocasia esculenta give it a distinctive, almost prehistoric appearance. Though the raw plant material contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals that must be removed through proper preparation, the starchy corms and vitamin-rich leaves provide an important food source in many tropical regions where the plant is widely cultivated. Overall, taro is a resilient and versatile plant that can be grown by both experienced and novice gardeners alike. Its edible qualities and ornamental features make it a valuable addition to tropical and subtropical landscapes. |
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ConsThis plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live. |
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Plant Data | |
Mature Size | 3 - 6 feet tall. 3 - 6 feet wide. |
Sun Exposure | Partial Shade - Full Sun |
Moisture Tolerance | - Wet |
Zones | 8a - 10b (Usually hardy to 10° F) |
Tags | Annual, Annual in Chicago, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Rabbit Resistant, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tropical, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant |
Bloom Period | Rarely flowers |
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Photos of This with...Diamond Frost Spurge, Celebrette Cherry Stripe New Guinea Impatiens, Infinity Dark Pink New Guinea Impatiens, Emerald Lace Swedish Mosaic Ivy, Freckles Coleus, |
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Pricing and Availability HistoryClick a label to toggle visibility for that size
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We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.
Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.
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To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.
Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!