Elephant Ears in IL/Zone 5

14 years ago

Good Morning all!

I'm a relative novice (started gardening last year) but have done really well thus far doing a lot of research all winter and relying on some expert friends. This year I bought some Elephant Ears and wonder what is the recommended light for them. I bought Esculenta, Black Magic, and Illustris (one of each), and I swear I read that they are full sun plants, but now I found at Lowes and Home Depot that they are partial shade plants (morning sun only was specified on the tags at the stores). I purchased mine from SpringHill, and the instruction book indicates that they are part/full sun, but will have bolder dark colors if in full sun. The SC forums all say part sun/shade, so then I thought maybe it's because of their stronger heat?

I was thinking of potting them, but was also considering clearing out a spot in full sun, again, because that's what I thought they were. If part sun/part shade, I was thinking the front porch where they would get about 4 hours of morning sun.

Thoughts?

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Comments (4)

gusolie
14 years ago
Elephant ears can handle full sun if they have ample moisture. Since your'e in a northern summer, the sunlight is intense, but not brutal, so full sun with moist soil is fine.

Or, if you don't plan on doing a lot of watering, don't have an irrigation system or have dry soil in your garden in general, I'd plant the tubers in partial sun to partial shade.

You can also plant the elephant ear varieties you mentioned in an aquatic pond, too in full sun. THey'll be fine until your first frost.

They love moisture and full sun (warm soil).

Here is a link that might be useful: Black Magic Elephant Ear
rolrod
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for that info. On the same line, in which light do they grow best or to their fullest?
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gusolie
14 years ago
I would say partial to full sun since you are so far north. Ideally, morning sun till about 12, then some shade, and full sun again from 4 pm onwards. It's really more moisture based--full sun, plant in rich, moist, humusy soils and they will look spectacaular.
rolrod
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks!