Tropical Storm Elephant Ear

Colocasia esculenta 'Tropical Storm'

Versatile 3-in-1 plant: Thrives as a year-round houseplant, a perennial in Zones 8-10, or a spectacular summer annual in the North.
Space-saving compact habit reaches only 2 feet tall, making it the premier choice for indoor tabletops or mixed patio containers.
High-contrast foliage features deep purple-black margins with a jagged, "lightning strike" creamy white center on every leaf.
High moisture tolerance allows for unique planting options, including rain gardens, pond edges, or self-watering indoor pots.

$56⁴⁴

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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

Flowering, Fast-growing, and Evergreen

Specifications

Botanical Name

Colocasia esculenta 'Tropical Storm'
Height

1-2 Feet
Width

1-2 Feet
Growing Zones

8-10
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Fast
Flower Color
- White
Leaf Color
- Green
- White
Bloom Period

Early Summer, Late Summer
Does Not Ship To

AK, HI, ID, MT

Planting & Care

Where to Place

Sunlight: For indoor growth, place your plant in a spot that receives 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect light, such as near a south or west facing window behind a sheer curtain. While it needs light to keep its deep purple color, direct glass-magnified sun can scorch the foliage, so watch for "bleaching" on the white centers.
Soil: Use a high quality, peat-based potting mix that is designed to hold moisture while still allowing for some aeration. Ensure your container has plenty of drainage holes because, while this plant loves water, stagnant water at the bottom of a pot indoors can lead to root rot.

Watering and Humidity

Indoor environments are significantly drier than the tropics, so you must keep the soil consistently moist to the touch without letting it become a soggy mess. Since these plants "breathe" through their large leaves, they require high humidity to prevent the edges from turning brown and crispy. Think of it like a spa treatment; placing the pot on a tray of wet pebbles or using a nearby humidifier will keep the foliage lush and vibrant.

Pruning Tips

Pruning indoors is primarily about "grooming" to maintain the plant's compact two foot shape and aesthetic appeal. When an older leaf begins to droop or turn yellow at the bottom of the clump, snip the stem off cleanly about an inch above the soil line. This type of regular maintenance prevents the plant from wasting energy on dying tissue and helps you spot any indoor pests like spider mites before they become a problem.

Fertilizer Needs

During the active growing months of spring and summer, use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer every four weeks to fuel those high-contrast leaves. Scale back feeding to once every eight weeks during the winter because the plant naturally slows its metabolism during shorter days. Avoid high-nitrogen "bloom booster" fertilizers as they can lead to weak, lanky stems that cannot support the weight of the heavy velvet leaves.

An Exotic Powerhouse for Any Space

Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a sun-drenched apartment, the Tropical Storm Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta 'Tropical Storm') brings an immediate sense of the exotic to your doorstep. This isn't your average, oversized Taro. 'Tropical Storm' was specifically bred to be a compact showstopper, offering the same dramatic, dark foliage as its larger cousins but in a manageable 2-foot frame. This smaller stature makes it the ultimate "crossover" plant—perfect as a high-contrast patio accent in the summer and a sophisticated houseplant in the winter.

High-Voltage Foliage

The name "Tropical Storm" perfectly captures the visual energy of its leaves. Each heart-shaped leaf emerges in a deep, moody purple-black that appears almost charcoal in certain lights. A bold, creamy-white center then "strikes" through the middle of the leaf, creating a jagged contrast that looks like a lightning bolt against a dark sky. Because the stems are also dark and succulent, the plant maintains a cohesive, high-fashion look from the soil line to the leaf tips.

From Patio Thriller to Indoor Specimen

In the garden, use Colocasia esculenta 'Tropical Storm' as the "thriller" in your mixed containers. Its bold texture and dark colors make lime-green ferns or bright pink petunias pop with intensity. Because it loves water, it is also a fantastic choice for boggy areas or the edges of a garden pond where other plants might struggle with "wet feet."

When the temperatures begin to dip, you don't have to say goodbye to this beauty. Simply move your containers indoors. As a houseplant, 'Tropical Storm' acts as a living sculpture, cleaning the air and adding a bold focal point to your interior design. Its compact size ensures it fits perfectly on a side table or a plant stand without overwhelming the room.

Seasons of Beauty

In warmer climates (Zones 8-10), 'Tropical Storm' provides year-round interest in the landscape. In northern zones, it serves as a fast-growing summer annual that creates a vacation-like atmosphere in an instant. For the gardener who wants a plant that can transition from the poolside to the parlor, 'Tropical Storm' is the clear choice.

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Growing Zones 8-10

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep Tropical Storm Elephant Ear as a houseplant year-round?

Absolutely! It thrives indoors if placed in bright, indirect light. Just ensure the soil stays consistently moist and provide a bit of extra humidity through misting or a humidifier.

How do I transition my plant from outdoors to indoors for the winter?

Before the first frost, check the plant for any hitchhiking garden pests. Bring it inside and place it in a bright window. It may go through a brief "adjustment period" where it loses a leaf or two, but it will quickly stabilize.

Does it need a lot of fertilizer?

Yes, Elephant Ears are "heavy feeders." To keep the purple-black color vibrant and encourage new growth, use a balanced liquid fertilizer every few weeks during the spring and summer.

Is this variety invasive?

While some Colocasia esculenta species can be aggressive in specific tropical wetlands, 'Tropical Storm' is a compact cultivar that is much easier to manage in a controlled garden setting or container.

What should I do if the leaves start to turn green?

Usually, this is a sign the plant needs more light. The deep purple-black pigmentation is most intense when the plant receives plenty of bright light.

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

Tropical Storm Elephant Ear

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Specifications