Alocasias aren't the only plants called Elephant Ear, but they're the biggest, with leaves up to 3' long. Though most are tropical, a few will handle short periods of temperatures as low as 0F, provided summers are hot, they are heavily mulched, good drainage is provided, and you don't mind them struggling a bit. In some places, they go by the name Ape'; that's "ah-pay", not ape as in Gorilla. We sell them as large, dormant or just sprouting rhizomes until June. After that, they're in 2-quart pots, but leaves may be cut back for shipping because of their size.

Alocasia macrorrhiza -- Giant Ape' -- This is one of the largest of the Elephant Ears, and one of the hardiest. Rigidly upright stems, bear thick, glossy, slightly scalloped 3' leaves. It won't go unnoticed.

Alocasia odora is an elephant ear that grows to just 3-4', large enough to turn heads, but fitting into a small garden better than some. Hardy to zone 7 if good drainage is provided. Grows in sun or part shade.

Alocasia 'Williams Hybrid' -- Grows 42-44 inches high, medium green foliage undulated with prominent veins and flowers through the summer. Hardiness is not well-defined, but the hybridizer says zone 8 and possibly colder. Large, strongly white-veined leaves reminiscent of 'African Mask' Colocasias. Dramatic.