Taro Colocasia esculenta
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an evergreen perennial vegetable in the Araceae family, native to Southeast Asia and the Indo-Malayan region. It grows 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft) tall and 80 cm–1.2 m (31 in–3.9 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 60 cm (24 in) apart.
Plan Taro in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Taro at a glance
| Type | Perennial vegetable, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Mature height | 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft) |
| Mature spread | 80 cm–1.2 m (31 in–3.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 60 cm (24 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 5.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: corms (cooked), leaves (cooked), leaf stalks (cooked) |
| Native to | Southeast Asia and the Indo-Malayan region |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan |
| Invasive in | US (Florida and Gulf states), Australia (environmental weed): check local rules before planting |
Is Taro toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: all raw parts
Raw tissue is full of calcium oxalate raphides that burn the mouth and throat; thorough cooking is required.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Taro
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
See Taro in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Thai tropical garden (8 plants)
Questions about Taro
- How far apart should I plant Taro?
- About 60 cm (24 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 80 cm–1.2 m (31 in–3.9 ft).
- Does Taro need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Taro need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Taro?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- Is Taro poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Raw tissue is full of calcium oxalate raphides that burn the mouth and throat; thorough cooking is required.
- What grows well with Taro?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Taro. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
- Rarely flowers in cultivation. Grows in wet soil or shallow water; tops die back in cool seasons and the corm re-sprouts. It spreads by stolons and can escape wetlands.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Calla lily (arum lily) Zantedeschia aethiopica
- Caladium (angel wings) Caladium bicolor
- Lacy tree philodendron Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
- Swiss cheese plant Monstera deliciosa
- Giant taro (elephant ear) Alocasia macrorrhizos
- Flamingo flower Anthurium andraeanum
- Tannia (malanga, yautía, cocoyam) Xanthosoma sagittifolium
- Elephant foot yam (suran, buk) Amorphophallus paeoniifolius