Colocasia Tea Cup Elephant Ear Bulb

Plant the Colocasia 'Tea Cup' Elephant Ear bulb in spring, and by summer, this remarkable plant becomes a garden centerpiece with its bold, architectural foliage. Featuring large, glossy olive-green leaves with striking dark purple veins and stalks, 'Tea Cup' lives up to its name with unique teacup-shaped leaves that collect rainwater. As the leaves fill, the stems gently tip to release the water, creating a mesmerizing cascade. This natural process supplies pollinators with fresh water while adding an interactive element to the landscape. Although the summer blooms are modest, they provide a valuable nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

A Colocasia esculenta cultivar, commonly called taro, kalo, or elephant ear, 'Tea Cup' is an exceptional tuberous perennial with an upright habit and rapid growth. Its tropical foliage creates an exotic focal point or an elegant backdrop for vibrant blooms in beds and borders. Perfect for large containers, it thrives indoors or outdoors and is equally at home in water gardens as a marginal or emergent pond plant.

Low-maintenance and resilient, 'Tea Cup' flourishes in warm temperatures and high humidity. It grows best in fertile, humusy, medium to wet soil with ample sunlight or partial shade. It tolerates standing water but requires consistent moisture and will not thrive in dry soil. Afternoon shade and regular fertilization during the growing season enhance its vigor. Naturally resistant to pests, deer, and rabbits, 'Tea Cup' is as easy to care for as it is stunning.

Plant 'Tea Cup' elephant ear bulbs outdoors in spring, once soil and nighttime temperatures exceed 60°F. Bury bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep, spacing them 3 to 4 feet apart for an impressive display.