🥕 Taro
Colocasia esculenta
vegetables perennial herbaceous (grown for corms)
☀️ Sun
partial shade to full sun
💧 Water
very high, can grow in standing water
🗺️ Zones
8, 12
🪴 Soil Type
moist to flooded, rich, slightly acidic
🧪 Soil pH
5.5-6.5
💧 Drainage
Well-drained
📏 Spacing
15-24 in. apart, 30-40 in. between rows (dryland); 18-24 in. for wetland
📅 Days to Maturity
7-12 months (from planting corms); 200-365 days depending on variety (dryland 200-300, wetland 300-365)
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ ["Poi🍽️ taro chips🍽️ stews🍽️ curries🍽️ bubble tea (taro flavor)🍽️ boiled/baked corms"]
🤝 Companions (6)
Ginger grows well beneath taro's broad canopy, which provides the shade and humidity ginger needs for rhizome development in wetland growing areas.
Turmeric thrives in taro's partial shade with the consistently moist soil taro's water-heavy cultivation maintains — ideal for turmeric rhizome growth.
🤝 watercress
Watercress and taro share identical aquatic growing needs — watercress grows at taro paddy edges, making use of the continuously wet conditions.
Taro and rice are classic paddy companions — taro grows at paddy margins while rice occupies the center, both benefiting from the flooded growing system.
🤝 edible ferns
Edible ferns (like ostrich fern) thrive in the moist, shaded conditions beneath taro's large leaves, creating a productive multi-layer wetland garden.
🤝 bananas
Bananas and taro create a productive tropical wet-garden pairing — bananas provide tall canopy while taro fills the moist understory, both loving rich, wet soil.
⚠️ Keep Apart (2)
⚠️ drought-tolerant plants
Growth inhibition or competition
⚠️ deep-rooted trees competing for water
Growth inhibition or competition
💊 Medicinal Uses
Contains mucilage (soluble fiber), significant potassium, and easily digestible starch. Traditional Polynesian and Asian remedy for digestive disorders, stomach ulcers (mucilage coats and protects), and as hypoallergenic food for infants and those with food sensitivities. Leaf used externally for burns and skin inflammation. CAUTION: all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals — MUST be cooked.
📝 Notes
Wetland aroid thriving in flooded or very moist conditions. Large elephant-ear leaves provide shade. Grown in paddies or wet beds. Excellent understory for bananas in tropical food forests.