Comments on: Miniature Elephant Ear Surprise

By: mary

mary — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:26:39 +0000

Karen,
Congratulations on your elephant ear plant! If you read through the comments above, you’ll find that Eric has mentioned the smell of certain plants in the family. I hope you don’t find the smell of your flowers too offensive.

I’m glad you found the right conditions for your plant, and thanks for the comment.

By: Karen Shea

Karen Shea — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:02:51 +0000

I bought an elephant ear plant at a Grocery Outlet Store just because I thought it was really cool looking – it looked like plastic and I had no idea what it was – no identification tag in the plant. I’ve had it inside for about 2 years and it hasn’t done extremely well because I didn’t know how to work with it. Finally found out what it is and gave it more humidity and less sun – so I thought it was getting a new leaf, but it turns out to be one of these wonderful “jack-in-the-pulpit” things! In fact, a second one is growing now – but I doubt they will get fertilized, as I don’t have scarab beetles in my house! I’m so glad I found this site and at least know what these are. Nice surprise!

By: James

James — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:10:28 +0000

There was a 50-foot bed of calla lilies in the house where I grew up, so I have a sentimental attachment to aroids. Thanks for sharing your discovery! I have some young tubers of other aroids that I’ve planted in the last few months. In a few years I hope to have some skunky but wonderfully outlandish aroids blooming!

By: mary

mary — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:47:24 +0000

Eric,

Thanks for commenting. Aroids are great to look at, aren’t they? Not always great to smell, though, as my friend Carla reminded me. Think of skunk cabbage for starters. It pays to be choosy.

By: Eric Bronson

Eric Bronson — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:21:07 +0000

Wonderful and informative post. Thanks for sharing I love aroids!

By: mary

mary — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:44:06 +0000

Michael – That’s great, no, it’s fantastic, that you saw the same thing at Cerro Azul. In fact, from what I’ve read, your habitat was a much more likely place to find Xanthosama mexicanum than our orchard! I haven’t really tracked it down, but I haven’t seen any references to it in Chiriqui.

Still, the plant was on the side of the orchard nearest our quebrada (seasonal spring for those not from Panama) so perhaps some creature ate a fruit and deposited the seed nearby. You’ve given me the idea to examine the quebrada area more closely – maybe I will see more plants there.

By: mary

mary — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:35:57 +0000

Hi titania,

Thanks for commenting – I always appreciate your viewpoint. At this point I have indeed decided to try to rescue the plant. I hope it’s possible.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:25:04 +0000

Wow! What a coincidence! I was on a hike on one of the beautiful trails with a couple friends here in Cerro Azul last Monday. We were at the edge of the river and saw this very same plant with a flower and were marveling at it. There were many other of the same plant around not yet flowering. I wanted to take a couple plants home with me and place them near the quebrada on the edge of our property but decided not to.

Now I know the rest of the story. Thanks!

By: titania

titania — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:31:15 +0000

It is such a nice surprise to come upon a new plant. I am always thrilled when a little plant emerges where I didn’t expect it. Naturally one wants to know its name. You have done a very thorough research. I would rescue some and replant if it is possible which is not always the way with Australian native plants.