Royal Hawaiian® Maui Gold Elephant Ear

Colocasia esculenta 'Maui Gold'

$56⁴⁸

In Stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Wet Soils, Heat Tolerant, and Container Friendly

Specifications

Botanical Name

Colocasia esculenta 'Maui Gold'
Height

2-4 ft
Width

1-2 ft
Growing Zones

8-11, Annual in Zones 3 - 7
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Leaf Color
- Gold
- Yellow
- Green
Bloom Period

Late Summer
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This variety performs best in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of direct light to maintain its vibrant chartreuse color. In hotter climates, afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent leaf scorch, though too much shade will cause the stems to stretch and the gold hue to fade toward lime green.
Soil: These plants crave rich, loamy soil that mimics a tropical forest floor. If you have heavy clay, mix in organic compost to improve drainage, as "wet feet" in cold, stagnant soil can lead to bulb rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, keep the soil consistently moist like a wrung-out sponge to help the large root system establish. Once mature, Maui Gold can handle heavy watering and even boggy conditions, but inconsistent moisture will cause the leaf edges to crisp and turn brown. If the plant goes through a dry spell, it will sacrifice its oldest leaves to survive, leading to a smaller, less impressive display.

Pruning Tips

Since these plants grow from a central corm, they do not require traditional pruning, but you should "deadhead" old foliage by cutting yellowing leaves at the base of the stem. Removing these spent leaves allows the plant to direct all its energy into producing the next massive, neon leaf. Think of it like grooming; it keeps the plant looking tidy and prevents pests from hiding in decaying organic matter.

Fertilizer Needs

Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer or a slow-release granular formula every 4 to 6 weeks during the peak growing season to fuel its rapid growth. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because they encourage soft, lush growth that is easily damaged by the first cool breezes of autumn. Providing plenty of potassium instead will help strengthen the corm for its winter dormancy.

Vibrant Royal Hawaiian® Maui Gold Elephant Ear

Eye-Catching and Bold Chartreuse Hue
Glossy, Golden-Green Foliage Points Downward
Prominent Veins Add Texture, While Giving an Impression of Strength
Perfect "Thriller" in Containers
Keep as an Annual in All Zones
Cold Winter Gardeners Can Dig and Overwinter Corm to Enjoy Next Year
Grow In-Ground as Perennial in Zones 8 - 11
Tolerates Moist Soils
Grow in Full Sun or Partial Shade
Easy Care

Every landscape needs a "pop" of bright color, doesn't it? Bring some glorious light to your garden with the oversized leaves of Royal Hawaiian® Maui Gold Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Maui Gold' PP# 24,482).

Maui Gold Elephant Ear features outstanding sagittate leaves that are shaped like an arrowhead. Their high-gloss finish brightens the look of your landscape...even if you choose to grow them in partial shade.

Use a stand of Maui Gold Elephant Ear as a contrasting backdrop for one of our darker Colocasia. Or, let their luminous foliage play off the award-winning charms of Cannova® Bronze Scarlet Canna.

Plant them in an outdoor container for a gorgeous display on your balcony. This choice makes the perfect "Thriller" that can be dressed up or down as you like.

Because the large leaves are large and held on strong stalks, they'll twist and turn in the breeze. Go ahead and tell yourself that's the wind coming in off the ocean!

Textured Maui Gold Elephant Ear looks almost as good from the back as it does from the front! This makes it a great choice to use in an island bed where people will see it from all angles.

Look closely at the top of each leaf where the veins come together in a "piko". The Maui Gold piko deepens to a pretty blue-purple.

It features an upright growth habit that fits even small space gardens. The unique leaves cascade down in an organically flowing appearance.

In Zones 8 - 11, grow them in the ground with plenty of moisture. They'll do great at the water's edge as a captivating foliage plant.

Otherwise, consider them a gorgeous annual. Or, dig and lift the corms to store in a cool, dry place overwinter.

Make your guests go green and gold with envy this season. Order your Royal Hawaiian Maui Gold Elephant Ear from the expert growers at Nature Hills today!

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Growing Zones 8-11, annual in zones 3 - 7

Find Your Growing Zone!

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

Royal Hawaiian® Maui Gold Elephant Ear

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Specifications