Taro
Colocasia esculenta
Also listed as Colocasia antiquorum, Colocasia euchlora
Also known as Elephant-ear, Cocoyam, Dasheen
Climate Match for your location
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Taro is a tropical perennial grown for its edible starchy corms and ornamental heart-shaped leaves. It thrives in warm, humid conditions with consistent moisture and produces large, dramatic foliage.
Why grow it
Taro offers a productive starch crop for warm climates where sweet potato or potato cultivation is limited by heat or humidity. The large, dramatic foliage provides dual-purpose ornamental appeal alongside food production. Compared to other tropical root crops, taro tolerates consistently wet or seasonally flooded conditions better than cassava or yam, making it suitable for wetland margins or areas with poor drainage.
Watch out for
Taro requires sustained warmth and humidity; growth slows significantly below 65°F and the plant will not tolerate frost. Corms are slow to establish and may not reach harvestable size within a single season in marginal climates. Petioles (leaf stems) can become woody and fibrous if the plant experiences stress, affecting eating quality.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native Range
Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Dasheen (larger corms, suited to temperate cultivation) and Eddoe (smaller corms, higher yields) are among the most common cultivars, with regional varieties selected for corm size, taste, and pest resistance.
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Taro is a tropical perennial grown for its edible starchy corms and ornamental heart-shaped leaves. It thrives in warm, humid conditions with consistent moisture and produces large, dramatic foliage.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Taro grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Taro offers a productive starch crop for warm climates where sweet potato or potato cultivation is limited by heat or humidity. The large, dramatic foliage provides dual-purpose ornamental appeal alongside food production. Compared to other tropical root crops, taro tolerates consistently wet or seasonally flooded conditions better than cassava or yam, making it suitable for wetland margins or areas with poor drainage.
Watch out for
Taro requires sustained warmth and humidity; growth slows significantly below 65°F and the plant will not tolerate frost. Corms are slow to establish and may not reach harvestable size within a single season in marginal climates. Petioles (leaf stems) can become woody and fibrous if the plant experiences stress, affecting eating quality.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native Range
Southeast Asia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Dasheen (larger corms, suited to temperate cultivation) and Eddoe (smaller corms, higher yields) are among the most common cultivars, with regional varieties selected for corm size, taste, and pest resistance.