elephant ears question

[Guglielmo Portas]

Hi all,

Last summer I picked up some "Black Magic" Colocasia. They did well
until October/November. I dug them up and stored them in the basement
until a few weeks ago when I stuck them back in the ground. I thought
they needed the bulbs stored indoors over the winter (I'm in Chicago).
They're growing just fine now.

My question is: if these are related to the elephant ears that grow
perennially like ditch weeds, do I need to winter them again? Whilst
replanting them, I looked around and saw all the green, "wild"
elephant ears sprouting up everywhere in full glory. Hmmm...

TIA

[Vox Humana]

"Guglielmo Portas" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi all,
>
> Last summer I picked up some "Black Magic" Colocasia. They did well
> until October/November. I dug them up and stored them in the basement
> until a few weeks ago when I stuck them back in the ground. I thought
> they needed the bulbs stored indoors over the winter (I'm in Chicago).
> They're growing just fine now.
>
> My question is: if these are related to the elephant ears that grow
> perennially like ditch weeds, do I need to winter them again? Whilst
> replanting them, I looked around and saw all the green, "wild"
> elephant ears sprouting up everywhere in full glory. Hmmm...

As far as I know, colocasias are all tropical related to caladiums. They
are not cold tolerant and must be lifted in areas where there is frost. I
have never seen any wild elephant ears in the Midwest. Are you confusing
these with daylilies, sometimes called "ditch lilies?"

[Cereus-validus]

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:279610

There are no "Elephant Ears" that grow like ditch weeds around Chicago. None
of the Colocasia are cold hardy.

Could you be alluding to "Skunk Cabbage"?


"Guglielmo Portas" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi all,
>
> Last summer I picked up some "Black Magic" Colocasia. They did well
> until October/November. I dug them up and stored them in the basement
> until a few weeks ago when I stuck them back in the ground. I thought
> they needed the bulbs stored indoors over the winter (I'm in Chicago).
> They're growing just fine now.
>
> My question is: if these are related to the elephant ears that grow
> perennially like ditch weeds, do I need to winter them again? Whilst
> replanting them, I looked around and saw all the green, "wild"
> elephant ears sprouting up everywhere in full glory. Hmmm...
>
> TIA

[Myrmecodia]

"Cereus-validus" > wrote in message >...
> There are no "Elephant Ears" that grow like ditch weeds around Chicago. None
> of the Colocasia are cold hardy.
>
> Could you be alluding to "Skunk Cabbage"?

or perhaps Sagittaria?

[Dorothy]

Cereus-validus wrote:

> There are no "Elephant Ears" that grow like ditch weeds around Chicago. None
> of the Colocasia are cold hardy.
> *

I live 25 miles outside Chicago and can show you Elephant Ears in hedgerows,
in roadside ditches, and in the scrub at the back of my lot.
They're found in vacant lots all over the city* -** i grew up there.

They grow about the size of established rhubarb clumps and will produce
a burdock like seed pod if left unmolested.* The leaves are even larger than
rhubarb and could never be mistaken for tiger lilies.

Don't know anyone who cultivates them as ornamentals tho.
Mostly* -* they get rooted out on sight.
*
*
*
*

[Cereus-validus]

You have just described plants of burdock, babe.


"Dorothy" > wrote in message
...
> Cereus-validus wrote:
>
> > There are no "Elephant Ears" that grow like ditch weeds around Chicago.
None
> > of the Colocasia are cold hardy.
> >
>
> I live 25 miles outside Chicago and can show you Elephant Ears in
hedgerows,
> in roadside ditches, and in the scrub at the back of my lot.
> They're found in vacant lots all over the city - i grew up there.
>
> They grow about the size of established rhubarb clumps and will produce
> a burdock like seed pod if left unmolested. The leaves are even larger
than
> rhubarb and could never be mistaken for tiger lilies.
>
> Don't know anyone who cultivates them as ornamentals tho.
> Mostly - they get rooted out on sight.
>
>
>
>
>

[Frogleg]

On Thu, 20 May 2004 17:08:04 GMT, "Cereus-validus"
> wrote:

>There are no "Elephant Ears" that grow like ditch weeds around Chicago. None
>of the Colocasia are cold hardy.

How come "Elephant Ears" are supposed to be poisonous, and taro
(Colocasia esculenta) is a food crop?

[Cereus-validus]

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:279681

The foliage and tubers contains oxalates that will decompose when they are
thoroughly cooked.


"Frogleg" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 20 May 2004 17:08:04 GMT, "Cereus-validus"
> > wrote:
>
> >There are no "Elephant Ears" that grow like ditch weeds around Chicago.
None
> >of the Colocasia are cold hardy.
>
> How come "Elephant Ears" are supposed to be poisonous, and taro
> (Colocasia esculenta) is a food crop?

[Guglielmo Portas]

Xref: kermit rec.gardens:279689

burdock- that's it
http://members.cox.net/vmonte/burdock-yardstick.jpg