Elephant Ears for Summer

We like tropicals for summer—they quickly turn an ordinary landscape into an island paradise. Our last newsletter featured Ensete ‘Maurelii’, an African ornamental banana with striking red leaves. This week we have two alocasia selections that are equally impressive in the landscape.

At 4–5 feet tall, plumbae ‘Nigra’ is the larger of the two. You can see that the leaves are huge—they measure 18–24 inches long and are held on strong, dark purple stems. Notice the striking deep green-to-purple color—they’re almost black, especially when placed in the shade. We like the slick metallic finish and light puckering, too—very dramatic.

‘Frydek’ is slightly shorter, reaching 2–3 feet tall. Large, velvety arrow-shaped leaves are emerald green and come in at about 18 inches long. Bold white veins make each leaf appear to have an external skeleton—it’s a very unique look. Though they’re somewhat hidden by the leaves, the pale green stems have unusual purple banding as well.

These plants add a touch of exotic flair to beds or large containers. We like placing them at the edge of a pond or around a patio to create a relaxing oasis. They’re pretty fast growers so they make quite an impact in one season.

Both of these varieties can be used to create lush indoor displays as well, since they perform well in strong indoor lighting such as that found in lobbies and waiting areas. When used inside, make sure they have ample humidity and water. 

‘Frydek’ and plumbae ‘Nigra’ are available in the true gallon size.