Re: common elephant ears

From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2000.03.24 at 00:43:57(4255) Dear Eric, NEVER any anger with wonderful newcomers like yourself to our list! Welcome!!! The ones I have seen for sale at Wal Mart, K Mart, etc.are a generally var. of Colocasia esculenta, but sometimes the photo on the packet shows a Xanthosoma leaf!!!! Good luck in your quest! The problem with BIG plants is that not many produce seeds, and so shipping giant rhizomes is difficult!! Xanthosoma sagittifolia is available in most groceries, sold as 'malanga blanca', and will get HUGE (over 6-8') if left to grow without a dormant period. Make SURE what you buy is the 'blanca', not the 'lilac', which is X. violacium, a beautiful plant also, but only 4' or so. Check the growing ends of the rhizomes at the grocery, 'blanca' will have whitish flesh, 'lila' will have reddish flesh. Good luck, Julius +More ju-bo@msn.com >Sorry, another beginner question. Just out of curiosity does anyone know what genera and species the common elephant ear is? I am talking about the one you can buy dormant at any Walmart, Home Depot or Lowes. Thanks again. -- Eric, (southeast Texas, zone 8b)<

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