Do Elephant Ears Come Back Every Year?

Elephant ear plants are tropical plant that grows in warmer climates. The elephant ear bulb is actually a rhizome and not a bulb.

The Colocasia Esculenta or edible taro or elephant’s ear is the most common variety of this plant.

Elephant ears only survive during winter if they are grown indoors. This raises the question; Do elephant ears come back every year?

About Elephant Ears

The elephant ear plant, otherwise known as colocasia, is a genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family, native to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Some species are widely cultivated and naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions.

The elephant ears are the common name for a group of tropical perennial plants grown for their elephant-like, heart-shaped leaves.

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How Elephant Ears Are Planted

You can plant the tubers about 2 to 3 inches deep, with the blunt end down.

Planting elephant ear bulbs indoors about eight weeks before the last frost date is also acceptable. If growing in pots, use rich organic soil and plant them at the same depth.

• Ready the soil until it warms up and there is no risk of frost. Prepare the soil 8″ deep, then dig a hole about 5″ deep.
• Insert the tuber into the hole with the pointed side up. The tuber top should be about 1″ below the soil surface.
• Make sure you thoroughly cover the tuber with enough soil and water.

Use

It is commonly used to treat insect bites, and the stem leaf can be cut or shredded and rubbed on the affected area to prevent pain and swelling.

Their young leaves are grown because they are rich in vitamin C, thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin. Their tubers contain starch and are rich in amino acids.

Do Elephant Ears Come Back Every Year? | Facts

Most elephant ears are perennials and will return each summer in the lower, coastal, and tropical South.

Some are perennials in the lower Mid-South. They act like soils, which means they become relatively dry in winter.

Knowing if your elephant ears will come back next year depends upon where you live and how you store them during the winter.

If you’re growing elephant ears, their re-appearance depends solely on the climate where you live.

They can be grown year-round if your home is in a temperate climate, like California or New England. 

However, elephant ears cannot survive outside the ground all season long if you live in a warmer area with mild winters and warm summers like Florida.

In this case, people who grow their seeds may want to store their flats until springtime so they don’t lose them due to freezing temperatures or other hazards like snowfall and frostbite during cold months.

1. The Elephant Ear Plant Is A Tropical Plant That Grows In Warmer Climates

Elephant ears are tropical plants that grow in warmer climates. The elephant ear plant is not cold and hardy and can’t survive in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

As a tropical plant, the elephant ear does not grow well in cold weather conditions like those found in temperate zones (i.e., northern Europe).

2. Elephant Ear Plants Do Not Do Well In Cold Temperatures

Planting elephant ears in a shady area can cause them to rot. The best time of year to plant elephant ears is in the fall when it’s cooler outside, and there’s less chance your plants will be exposed to harsh sunlight.

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3. The Elephant Ear Bulb Is Actually A Rhizome And Not A Bulb

The elephant ear bulb is actually a rhizome and not a bulb. Rhizomes are horizontal stems that grow underground, like roots but with leaves instead of leaves.

They are not as hardy as bulbs and can’t be transplanted out of their native habitat (which is why they’re so great for tropical climates).

You will see them in your garden or landscape if you live near an area with lots of humidity because they like it wet under the surface.

This makes them perfect for adding ground covers around pools and ponds, where you need something to absorb excess water while still providing good drainage.

4. The Colocasia Esculenta Or Edible Taro Or Elephant’s Ear Is The Most Common Variety Of This Plant

The elephant ear plant is a tropical plant that grows in swamps and marshlands. It has been around for thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that people started cultivating them for food.

The elephant ear plant is called taro or colocasia, which means “large edible leaves. Sometimes, these plants are called “elephant’s ears” because their leaves look like an elephant’s ear.

However, this isn’t actually true; the name comes from their shape rather than any resemblance between their leaf anatomy and those of an animal head!

So many people grow this vegetable because it’s delicious when cooked with coconut milk or chicken stock; you can snack on them raw, too, if desired.

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5. Elephant Ears Only Survive During Winter If They Are Grown Indoors

Elephant ears are tropical plants that need to be grown indoors. They are difficult to grow outside because they need warmth and moisture and because you can’t plant them directly in the ground.

If you want to grow elephant ears indoors, ensure plenty of light and water available at all times; otherwise, your plant will die before it has a chance to bloom.

Conclusion

It has been established that the elephant ear plant is a tropical plant that grows in warmer climates.

The plant does not do well in extreme temperatures, so you should always keep this plant in an area with access to warm sunlight and water. You control the life span and re-appearance of your plant.

This means that if you live in an area with temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 C), then your elephant ears may not come back next year.