Maximus Gigante Hardy Elephant Ear (Colocasia) – 5 Gallon Pot

Plants grown in containers can be brought indoors when temperatures are forecast to drop below freezing.

---

---

A plant that will stop anyone and everyone in their tracks, the Maximus Gigante Elephant Ear sports truly gigantic leaves that can reach 3 to 4 feet long and 2 to almost 3 feet wide. The dark greenish black leaves have a contrasting light light green center vein with lateral outreaching stripes. Excellent for growing in garden beds or containers, this magnificent giant will certainly bring a delightful look of the tropics to garden. While many types of elephant ears aren’t cold hardy, such as the Alocasia varieties, Colocasia varieties such as Maximus Gigante, are dependable outdoor perennials in USDA Zones 8 through 11, withstanding winter low temperatures of 15 degrees Fahrenheit. For gardeners north of Zone 8, you’ll be happy to know that container-grown plants can be overwintered indoors. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, Maximus Gigante thrives in full sun to part shade, is super heat and humidity tolerant, and its roots prefer life on the moist side.

Maximus Gigante Hardy Elephant Ear is very easy to grow in most any moist but well-drained soil and full sun to part shade. We suggest 4 or more hours of direct sunlight per day. The more sun the larger the pant grows. It prefers a consistently moist to wet soil. Keep an eye on plants growing in containers and provide water if you see the foliage begin to wilt. Feed in spring and again in early summer with a slow-release flower food or natural or organic plant food. In Zone 8 we suggest some extra mulch around the plant for insulation in case the temperatures drop below normal.