Colocasia Fontenesii

Colocasia FontenesiiWhere most elephant ears make their drama in the leaf, Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii' makes it in the stem. Big, lush green leaves are held aloft on tall, glossy stalks of deep purple black, so the whole plant has a striking two tone architecture green sails on near black masts. It's one of the most elegant of all the Colocasia, and the tallest we grow. Given warmth and moisture it romps up to head height in a season, making instant structure at the

Where most elephant ears make their drama in the leaf, Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii' makes it in the stem. Big, lush green leaves are held aloft on tall, glossy stalks of deep purple-black, so the whole plant has a striking two-tone architecture — green sails on near-black masts. It's one of the most elegant of all the Colocasia, and the tallest we grow.

Given warmth and moisture it romps up to head height in a season, making instant structure at the back of an exotic border or a commanding centrepiece in a large container. The contrast of fresh green against those dark stems reads beautifully through summer and gives a planting real height and presence.

Where to grow it

Happy in full sun or part shade, in rich, reliably moist soil — it's truly at home in boggy ground and at the water's edge. Shelter it from strong winds, which can catch those tall stems and big leaves. Pot it into something generous, keep it well watered and well fed, and it'll reward you with remarkable height and leaf after leaf.

Supplied as an established young plant in a 9cm pot, grown here in Norfolk and ready to romp away once the warmth arrives.