Colocasia 'Illustris'

"Elephant ears"

Colocasia 'Illustris'

1 bulb — £12.90

Spring planting season is currently closed 
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Delivery schedule

Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025

Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025

Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
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Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

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Description

Tall, grand and incredibly impressive, you simply won’t believe your eyes when you come face-to-face with the gargantuan leaves of Colocasia 'Illustris'. Growing up to 1.5m high in one season, this plant is a real eyeful, with huge, heart-shaped leaves in majestic shades of aurora green and deep mauve-black. If the size of the leaves weren’t enough to get your attention, the veins on them make a flashy striped pattern which just adds that extra spark to the show.

Happy in a partially shaded and sheltered spot, this trendy tropical plant could be the perfect thing to green up a courtyard or small urban garden. Grow Colocasia 'Illustris' in large pots or out in the soil as soon as risk of frost has passed and enjoy its lush beauty all through the summer. Combine it with brightly-coloured flowers like dahlias for a contrasting colour pop.

Our Colocasia bulbs are grown and cultivated in Costa Rica.

Key features

  • Perfect for pots

  • Suitable for indoors

  • Comes back every year

  • Thrives well in full sun

  • Great for shade

  • Packed in paper bags

  • Needs winter protection

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Colocasia esculenta var antiquorum 'Illustris'

  • Flower colour

    Green, black

  • Bulb size

    14/+

  • Established height

    1.2-1.5m

  • Established spread

    30-50cm

  • Leaf colour

    Green, black

  • Habit

    Upright
    Clump-forming

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Tender/Tropical

  • Years to establish

    1-2 years

  • Sunlight

    Full sun
    Partial shade
    Dappled shade

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Indoors
    Pots
    Large containers
    Borders
    Exotic gardens
    Greenhouse

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Damp
    Poorly drained

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Sandy
    Multipurpose compost
    Loam-based compost

  • Growing skill

    Requires specific conditions

  • Scented

    No

  • Pollinator-friendly

    No

  • Mouse resistant

    No

  • Rabbit resistant

    No

  • Deer resistant

    No

  • Toxicity

    Harmful if eaten
    Skin/eyes irritant

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

  • Orders placed until 29 February 2025
    You can expect your order in February/March 2025

    Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
    You can expect your order in March/April 2025

    Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

Colocasia in 1 minute

They're also known as elephant ears and it's easy to see why. The big, dramatic leaves of Colocasia certainly bear a resemblance to those of our iconic pachyderm, and the plant's southeast Asian origins are as tropical as you could wish!

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