- Hardiness
- Zones 8 to 11
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Steady moisture
- Size
- 3 to 6 ft
- Blooms
- Grown for leaves
- Colors
- green, black
- Planting depth
- 4 inches
Growing tip. Huge leaves for wet spots and pots. In cold zones dig the corms in fall and store them indoors.
When to plant elephant ear by zone
| Zone | Median last / first frost | When to plant | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3b | May 16 / Sep 25 | Plant outside: May 23 to Jun 27 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Sep 28 | Dig up in fall |
| 4a | May 12 / Sep 28 | Plant outside: May 19 to Jun 23 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 1 | Dig up in fall |
| 4b | May 8 / Oct 1 | Plant outside: May 15 to Jun 19 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 4 | Dig up in fall |
| 5a | May 3 / Oct 5 | Plant outside: May 10 to Jun 14 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 8 | Dig up in fall |
| 5b | May 1 / Oct 10 | Plant outside: May 8 to Jun 12 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 13 | Dig up in fall |
| 6a | Apr 29 / Oct 16 | Plant outside: May 6 to Jun 10 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 19 | Dig up in fall |
| 6b | Apr 22 / Oct 22 | Plant outside: Apr 29 to Jun 3 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 25 | Dig up in fall |
| 7a | Apr 16 / Oct 25 | Plant outside: Apr 23 to May 28 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Oct 28 | Dig up in fall |
| 7b | Apr 5 / Nov 1 | Plant outside: Apr 12 to May 17 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Nov 4 | Dig up in fall |
| 8a | Mar 29 / Nov 7 | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 10 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Nov 10 | Comes back |
| 8b | Mar 16 / Nov 14 | Plant outside: Mar 23 to Apr 27 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Nov 17 | Comes back |
| 9a | Mar 2 / Nov 26 | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Nov 29 | Comes back |
| 9b | Feb 1 / Dec 9 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Dig up for winter: after the first frost, around Dec 12 | Comes back |
Zones 10 and warmer have little or no frost. There, plant cool-season plants in fall and warm-season plants from late winter.
Similar bulbs
DaffodilFull sun to part shade · Zones 3 to 8
CrocusFull sun to part shade · Zones 3 to 8
HyacinthFull sun to part shade · Zones 4 to 8
Grape hyacinthFull sun to part shade · Zones 4 to 8
Siberian squillFull sun to part shade · Zones 2 to 8
WindflowerFull sun to part shade · Zones 4 to 8More for your zone: zone 8 bulbs, zone 9 bulbs, zone 10 bulbs.
Frequently asked questions
What zone does elephant ear grow in?
Elephant ear is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. Outside that range it struggles with the winter. Find your zone by ZIP code.
How much sun does elephant ear need?
Full sun to part shade. Full sun means at least six hours of direct sun a day; part shade means about three to six.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.