A Tropical Look, Great in Shade.The Elephant Ear Illustris, ‘Colocasia Illustris’, looks great in a container or in your shade garden. The large beautiful leaves will add diversity to any landscape. The Illustris looks similar to the Esculenta but has gorgeous dark, almost black leaves with dark green veins. Your Elephant’s Ear Illustris will produce large tropical looking leaves, and is a plant that looks great when used with other colorful plants like Caladiums. It will do the best in well drained soils that are fertilized and watered regularly..