Overview

Bring a touch of exotic drama to your plant collection with the Colocasia Black Coral live plant. This captivating aroid, often referred to as ‘Black Coral Elephant Ear’, is renowned for its striking, nearly black foliage that shimmers with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. Each large, heart-shaped leaf emerges a deep purple-green, maturing into an intense, glossy, dark purple-black that commands attention. Perfect for creating a bold focal point, this tropical beauty thrives in warm, humid environments and can be grown as an impressive indoor houseplant or as a stunning outdoor accent in suitable climates. Our starter plant comes in a 4 inch pot, ready to be nurtured and grown into a magnificent specimen.

The Colocasia Black Coral live plant is a cultivar of Colocasia esculenta, a species native to tropical and subtropical regions. Its unique coloration sets it apart from other elephant ears, making it a highly sought-after variety for gardeners and interior decorators alike. With proper care, this plant will reward you with lush, dark foliage that adds depth and contrast to any plant arrangement or garden bed. Its dramatic presence makes it an excellent choice for those looking to make a statement with their plant selections.

Key Benefits

The Colocasia Black Coral live plant offers numerous advantages, making it a fantastic choice for both novice and experienced plant enthusiasts. Its unique aesthetics and relatively straightforward care requirements contribute to its popularity:

• Stunning Visual Impact: The most prominent benefit is its incredibly dark, almost black foliage. These glossy, heart-shaped leaves provide a dramatic contrast to greener plants, making them an instant focal point in any setting. The deep coloration adds a sophisticated and exotic touch.

• Versatile Placement: While often grown outdoors in warmer climates, the Colocasia Black Coral live plant adapts beautifully to indoor conditions, especially in bright, humid spaces. This versatility allows you to enjoy its beauty whether you have a garden, patio, or simply a well-lit room.

• Tropical Ambiance: With its large, elephant-ear-like leaves and dark hue, this plant instantly transports you to a lush, tropical paradise. It’s perfect for creating a resort-like feel on a patio or adding an exotic flair to an indoor jungle aesthetic.

• Relatively Easy Care: Once established, the Black Coral Elephant Ear is not overly demanding. It generally requires consistent moisture and warmth, making it suitable for those who can provide these basic conditions without excessive fuss.

• Rapid Growth Potential: Under optimal conditions, Colocasia can grow quite quickly, producing new leaves regularly. This rapid growth is satisfying for plant owners who enjoy seeing their plants develop and expand their presence.

• Unique Foliage Texture: Beyond the color, the texture of the leaves is also appealing. They are often described as leathery or velvety, adding another layer of sensory interest to this already captivating plant.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Colocasia Black Coral live plant involves understanding its tropical origins and providing conditions that mimic its natural habitat. This plant thrives on warmth, humidity, and consistent moisture. For optimal growth and to maintain its stunning dark foliage, attention to these details is crucial. Ensure your plant receives bright, indirect light when indoors, or partial shade to full sun when outdoors. Too much direct, intense sun can sometimes scorch the leaves, especially in hotter climates, while too little light may cause the dark coloration to be less intense.

Watering is key for this moisture-loving plant. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but never let the plant completely dry out. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot. For soil, a rich, well-draining potting mix is ideal, preferably one with a good amount of organic matter. During the growing season (spring through summer), fertilize every 2-4 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer to support its vigorous growth. Reduce fertilization in fall and winter when growth slows.

The Colocasia Black Coral live plant prefers warm temperatures, ideally between 65-85°F (18-29°C). It is generally hardy in USDA zones 8-11, where it can be grown as a perennial. In colder zones, it is best grown as an annual or brought indoors before the first frost. High humidity is also beneficial; consider misting regularly, using a pebble tray, or placing it near a humidifier, especially indoors. Watch out for common pests like spider mites and mealybugs, and treat promptly with insecticidal soap if detected. Providing proper care ensures your dark leaf Colocasia remains vibrant and healthy.

Size & Details

This offering is for a Colocasia Black Coral live plant, which ships as a starter plant in a 4 inch nursery pot. At this stage, the plant will have several developing leaves, typically ranging from a few inches to about 6-8 inches in height. As it matures, the ‘Black Coral’ Colocasia can grow quite large, reaching impressive heights of 3-5 feet (90-150 cm) tall and spreading 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) wide when grown in ideal conditions, especially outdoors in the ground. Its growth rate is considered fast under optimal care, quickly developing its characteristic large, dark leaves.

The mature leaves can span up to 2 feet in length, creating a dramatic, architectural presence. When grown indoors, its size can be somewhat contained by pot size and pruning, though it will still require ample space to showcase its magnificent foliage. This starter plant provides a fantastic opportunity to cultivate a substantial and striking tropical specimen. The plant will arrive healthy and ready for transplanting into a larger container or your garden bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The Colocasia Black Coral live plant is a starter in a 4 inch pot. When mature, it can grow 3-5 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide, especially when planted in the ground in warm climates. Indoor growth may be slightly smaller depending on pot size.

• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This Colocasia can be grown both indoors as a houseplant or outdoors in USDA zones 8-11. In colder zones, it’s best treated as an annual or overwintered indoors.

• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: The Black Coral Elephant Ear prefers bright, indirect light indoors. Outdoors, it thrives in partial shade to full sun, but may need protection from intense afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorching.

• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once its basic needs for warmth, consistent moisture, and humidity are met, the Colocasia Black Coral live plant is relatively easy to care for and quite rewarding.

• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Colocasia Black Coral live plant will arrive as a healthy starter plant in a 4 inch pot, carefully packaged to ensure its safe journey to you.

• Q: How often should I water my Colocasia? A: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch, and never let the plant completely dry out.

• Q: What kind of soil is best for this plant? A: A rich, well-draining potting mix with a good amount of organic matter is ideal for the dark leaf Colocasia to thrive.

• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: In USDA zones 8-11, it can survive winter outdoors as a perennial. In colder zones, it must be brought indoors or treated as an annual, as it is not frost-tolerant.

• Q: Is this plant safe for pets? A: Like many plants in the Araceae family, Colocasia contains calcium oxalates and can be toxic if ingested. Keep it out of reach of pets and children.

• Q: How can I enhance the dark color of the leaves? A: Providing adequate bright, indirect light (or partial sun outdoors) and consistent fertilization during the growing season will help ensure the most intense and glossy dark coloration for your Colocasia Black Coral live plant.