S & J Nursery’s Colocasia
Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’
( Elephant Ear ‘ Tea Cup’ )
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Origins: 
– Who sails Art for the garden has to come in the form of statues, birdbaths
or sundials? Colocasia Esculenta ‘ Tea Cup’ has a striking form sure to catch the eye and delight anyone who sees them.
– Unusual form and habit for a Colocasia plant, unlike other Colocasia or
Elephant Ear plants available at S & J Nursery, this selection will hold their foliage inverted and upright forming a little cup where the stem meets the leaves, as rain fills the ” Tea Cup” they will begin to droop over under the weight and pour out the water!!! Colocasia Tea Cup is the perfect conversation piece for your garden loving friends.
– Planting these well behaved modern cultivars of Colocasia that fit
perfectly into todays gardens will add bold tropical foliage for eye catching potted displays, water gardens or traditional garden settings and mixed perennial borders.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Preferred Exposure:
– Plant Colocasia in a full sun to shade in the North Florida |
Jacksonville | St. Augustine area landscape. Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup” does well in full sun as long as it is planted into a moist site or submerged as a garden pond plant. If your garden is extremely sandy and dry consider planting it in a location that will receive some relief from North
Florida’s hot sun.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Foliage:
– Stunning upright foliage is an olive green color with deep purple veins that is particularly showy in a sunny spot in the garden as the veining shows well when the sun lights up the foliage. Adds great color and texture to the North Florida Jacksonville and St. Augustine Florida garden.
– Foliage may remain evergreen during the winter in our North Florida
area gardens, but can go dormant and come back up the following spring depending on winter conditions and exposure.
– Colocasia plants are considered an evergreen perennial tuberous
herb.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Soil Preference / Salt tolerance:
– Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ is tolerant of a wide range of soil
components and growing conditions, although they will be most at home with adequate moisture.
– Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ will tolerate wet soils for prolonged
periods and can be planted into poorly draining garden sites in our North Florida landscapes.
– Can be planted into pots and submerged as pond plants for water
gardens.
– Salt tolerance unknown.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Size Variance:
– The foliage on the Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ plant will
reach 4 -6 ft high and 3 ft wide.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Growth Habit:
– Evergreen, clumping perennial herb forms an attractive, upright mound
of tropical looking foliage.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Growth Rate:
– Fast, particularly in the rainy and hot summer months.
Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Water Requirements:
– Although much more durable once established in the landscape, regular water is necessary to get the plant rooted and growing on its own after being planted in the ground from an S & J Nursery container. Use supplimental irrigation when planted in full sun or in extremely sandy soil.
Best Uses For Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ in the Jacksonville | St.
Augustine Area Landscapes :
– Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ is a great easy care low maintenance addition to just about any landscape. Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’ Elephant Ear plants will blend perfectly into traditional formal landscapes or tropical gardens. Colocasia also are right at home in the middle of a perennial bed and blend beautifully into any Cottage garden setting.
– Colocasia make an excellent potted plant accent for the pool or
patio area.
– Excellent pond side planting, in ground or containered.
– Perfect in masses under larger trees or landscape specimens for added
attraction to any landscape setting, near a seating wall, water feature, bird bath or park bench, etc.
Care of Colocasia Esculenta ‘Tea Cup’:
– Low care landscape pant selection.
– Water every day during the establishment period after planting in the garden from a nursery container.
– Elephant Ear plants will need good water during the establishment period
and supplemental irrigation during dry spells or particularly hot dry summers, especially when planted into sandy soils.
– As with all perennial plantings, amending the soil with compost when planting your Colocasia plants will help keep them healthy and happy through the years.
– Fertilize each spring with a handful of garden compost or a mixture of Milorganite or Green Edge Fertilizer and a slow release poly coated plant food such as Osmocote or Stay Green general purpose
plant food or 10-10-10.