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| Category: Tropical |
| Family: Araceae (Arums) |
| Origin: Polynesia (Pacific Ocean) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Red/Purple Foliage: Yes |
| Variegated Foliage: Yes |
| Flower Color: NA |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Synonyms: [Colocasia antiquorum 'Illustris'] |
| Height: 3-5 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 30-32° F |
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Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) - Colocasia esculenta is native to tropical Asia and Polynesia. The more common types have large velvet-like textured, "Elephant Ear"- like leaves that are dark green with darker veins. In 'Illustris', a plant which can reach to 6 feet tall in optimum conditions, the large heart-shaped leaves, to up to 3 feet long, have only the veins and margins a apple-green color with the rest of the leaf being blackish-purple. The name was applied by William Bull sometime before 1902 so this plant has been around a while. It is often grown as Colocasia antiquorum 'Illustris' but C. antiquorum has been subsumed into Colocasia esculenta and is now listed as a variety of that species. Give ample or constant moisture, especially in full sun situations. Great in the pond. Probably hardy to 20 F. if given protection. It is considered an herbaceous perennial tuberous herb although in the right frost-free locations these plants can be evergreen and quite large.
This information about Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum 'Illustris' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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