While this elephant’s ear is by no means new, when you see it you can’t help but want to shout its praises from the rooftops. At least that’s how we felt when we encountered ‘Mojito’ during a visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden. The massive leaves (up to 2 feet long and 1 foot wide) seem otherworldly and wildly wonderful with their random splotches atop dramatically dark stems. The deep purple on chartreuse is striking, giving this plant the ability to shine all on its own in a container or as a focal point in a planting bed. Creating color echoes with ‘Mojito’ is easy with the help of low-growing plants such as golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia* ‘Aurea’, Zones 4–8) and black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’, Zones 6–11). For gardeners in cooler regions, the tubers can be lifted easily and stored during winter for an encore performance the following year.

‘Mojito’ elephant’s ear

Colocasia esculenta* ‘Mojito’

Zones: 8–10

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; rich, moist, well-drained soil

Native range: Asia

*Invasive alert: Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)

This plant is considered invasive in AK, CT, IL, KY, MA, NH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, WI, and WV.

*Elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta)

This plant is considered invasive in AL, CA, and FL.

Please visit invasiveplantatlas.org for more information.

Sources:

• High Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM; 800-925-9387; highcountrygardens.com
• Logee’s, Danielson, CT; 860-774-8038; logees.com

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