Yes, it will grow. Depending on the type, it may grow large or small plants. There are a number of different types of edible taro so they have different growing habits.

Thanks for the good news tsmith....the ones ive looked at have no stem at all .....just the bulb....I guess they cut it right off hopefully it will still grow!

It was my understanding that bulb size did have something to do with the size of the plant. Also regular taro will usually produce regular Colocasia esculenta. However, if you purchase imperial taro, you will get Colocasia 'Illustris'. Malanga is xanthosoma, usually atrovirens, but sometimes a variation of the species. We need Keiko here who has vast knowledge of these tubers.

There is a list that was posted around December or January, of edible tubers that can be bought in supermarkets (primarily Asian and Hispanic), and what they may be. You can do a search for "supermarket" or "grocery" on this forum and see what pops up.

Susan

The Malanga they sell at most Wal-Marts usually is Xanthosoma violeceum. And susan is right...taro is usually Colocasia esculenta.

Plantman - here is the list that was posted earlier on the forum:

First listed is Nationality, then Common Name, then Scientific Name, which I'm sure you would have known anyway.

Barbados, West Indies
Slippery dips
Colocasia e. antiquorum

Brazil
Cara
Colocasia esculenta
Inhame
Colocasia esculenta
Inhame roxo
Xanthosoma violaceum
Mangarito
Xanthosoma maffaffa
Taioba
Xanthosoma sagittifolia leaves
Taioba roxo
Xanthosoma violaceum

Caribbean Islands (English Speaking)
Calaloo bush
Colocasia esculenta leaves
Dasheen
Colocasia esculenta
Eddoes
Colocasia e. antiquorum
Tanier
Xanthosoma sagittifolia
Tannia
Xanthosoma sagittifolia

Cuba
Malanga blanca
Xanthosoma sagittifolia
Malanga cabeza
Colocasia esculenta
Malanga islena
Colocasia esculenta
Malanga lila
Xanthosoma violaceum

Cuba and parts of Spanish Caribbean
Malanga amarilla
Xanthosoma atrovirens

Ecuador, Columbia
Camacho
Colocasia esculenta

Ecuador, possibly Columbia
Papa China
Colocasia e. antiquorum

Florida & some other states
Taro Root
Colocasia e. antiquorum

Hawaii
Taro
Colocasia esculenta

Hawaii (perhaps Tonga & Samoa)
Ape (Ah-pay)
Xanthosoma sagittifolia

India
Arvi
Colocasia esculenta

India (found canned in West Palm Beach Indian grocer)
Arvi
Colocasia e. antiquorum

Suran
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius

Jamaica
Red coco
Xanthosoma violaceum

Nigeria
Anyamanya cocoyam
Colocasia esculenta

Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
Yautia amarilla
Xanthosoma atrovirens
Yautia blanca
Xanthosoma sagittifolia
Yautia lila
Xanthosoma violaceum

S.E. Asia
Keladi
Colocasia esculenta
Talas
Colocasia esculenta

West Africa
New cocoyams
Xanthosoma sagittifolia
Old Cocoyam
Colocasia e. antiquorum
Old Cocoyam
Colocasia esculenta

Susan

"the don't throw it grow it book of houseplants" by Millicent Sealsam and Deborah Peterson gives imformation on growing lots of things (tubers etc.) that you can buy at the supermarket.

Thanks everyone for the help and info....wish me luck!! Brent :)