Colocasia ‘Pharaoh’s Mask’

Colocasia 'Pharaoh's Mask' (Colocasia esculenta 'Pharaoh's Mask') is the elephant ear to plant when you want one plant to carry a whole bed. Leaves are deep green to near black with pale veins that read like brushwork, held on a clump reaching about 1.2m tall and 1m across. It grows fast in warm weather, drinks heavily, and looks its best in the spots where most plants sulk: the damp corner, the pond margin, the shaded side of a pool.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that does all the work. The flowers are insignificant. You are buying the leaf: dark, ribbed and boldly veined, and visible from the far end of the garden.
• Fast to fill a space. In a warm summer a tube becomes a full clump inside one season, which is unusual value in a feature plant.
• Happy with wet feet. Boggy ground, a pond edge or a bed that stays damp after rain all suit it, solving a position that defeats most shrubs.
• Built for heat and humidity. It holds condition through a humid summer that scorches softer foliage, and reflected heat beside a pool does not faze it.

Where it works best

Feature planting. One clump beside a path or a water feature is enough. The pale veining shows best against a plain background.

Mass planting. Plant 80cm apart for a bold massed display. At that spacing the leaves overlap by the second season without the clumps competing for water.

Poolside and pots. The leaves are neither spiny nor brittle, so splash zones suit it. In a container, use a pot at least 400mm wide and keep the mix constantly moist.

Growing Colocasia 'Pharaoh's Mask' in Australia

Position and climate. Part shade to filtered sun gives the deepest colour; full sun works in the tropics provided the water never runs short. This is a tropical, subtropical and warm temperate plant, and it is frost tender. In cooler gardens the top growth dies back over winter and reshoots in spring, so use a pot you can move under cover.

Soil. Rich, heavy and moisture holding, with plenty of compost dug through. Unlike most garden plants it does not need sharp drainage and will grow happily in ground that stays wet.

Water and feed. Water is the whole game. Keep the root zone damp through the growing season and never let a potted plant dry out, because browned leaf edges do not repair. Feed monthly from spring to autumn with a nitrogen rich liquid fertiliser.

Pruning. Cut old leaves off at the base as they yellow, and divide congested clumps in spring every three or four years.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown as tube stock: a young single crowned plant with two or three leaves and a developing tuber. Tubes establish quickly, so plant it out within a week of arrival.

Some leaf damage in transit is normal on foliage this size, and the plant sheds those leaves rather than repairing them. Expect new growth within two to three weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to grow elephant ears in an Australian garden
• Browse the tropical plant range
• Plants that suit poolside beds
• Companions for large containers

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Colocasia leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth pain, drooling and vomiting if a pet chews them. Choose something else for a yard with a known chewer.

How far apart should I plant it for a massed bed?

Set plants 80cm apart. Each clump reaches about a metre across, so the leaves knit together in the second season while every crown still gets enough water and light.

What happens to it in winter?

In tropical and subtropical gardens it usually holds its leaves. In cooler areas the top growth dies down and the tuber sits dormant, then reshoots in spring. Ease off the water over winter so a dormant tuber does not rot.