Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris'
Imperial Taro
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Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Description
The Imperial Taro is famous for its dark purple leaf stalks and its light green leaf blades that are marked with dark purple (almost black) leaf veins.
Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Blooming
Blooms small, white flowers followed by single-seeded berries.
Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Growth
Taro grows best in partial shade, or bright filtered light, and high humidity. In warm areas, Colocasia works well as foliage plants. Where Taro is not growing hardy, raise plants in a warm greenhouse, in containers or at the margin of an indoor pool. A warm greenhouse has a minimum temperature of 55°F (13°C). During the day, temperatures should be set to 55-64°F (13-18°C) or above, and at night, the temperature should be at 55°F (13°C). Plants can also be grown as annuals, outdoors in the ground or in containers.
Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Planting
Conduct division in winter or early spring. Division entails propagating a plant by splitting it into 2 or more parts. Each part has its own root system and more than one shoot or dormant bud.
Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Pest
Taro is vulnerable to bacterial blight, soft rot, corm and root rot, dasheen mosaic virus, aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.
Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Interesting facts
There are only 6 known species of Colocasia, native to tropical Asia. Taro is an important staple food in Asia, as well as in many other oceanic countries, such as Hawaii, where it has been adopted. The corm (which is a type of underground stem), along with the leaves, are eaten, but only after cooking to destroy the harmful toxin. The sap from the plants may also aggravate the skin upon contact.
Imperial Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') - Soil and irrigation
Colocasia grows best in soil that is fertile, humus-rich, slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.5), and moist or wet. Soilless potting mixes work fine for indoor plants. Pot up tubers in spring, and grow at 64°F (18°C). Water liberally during the growing season. When dormant, keep tubers dry and protected from the frost.
