Plant Min Zone: 8a
Plant Max Zone: 11a
Sunlight: Part Sun, Shade
Water / Rainfall: Average, High, Very High
Soil Quality: Average, Rich
Bloom Season: Summer
Flower Color: Light Pink, Cream
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Dark Green, Purplish Black
Summer Foliage Color: Dark Green, Purplish Black
Fall Foliage Color: Dark Green, Purplish Black
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Low
Wet-Feet Tolerance: High
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils
Height: 3' - 5'
Width: 3' - 4'
Growth Rate: Fast
Service Life: N.A.
Maintenance Need: N.A.
Spreading Potential: N.A.
Yearly Trimming Tips: N.A.
Plant Grouping Size: N.A.
Best Side of House: N.A.
Extreme Planting Locations: N.A.
Ornamental Features: N.A.
Special Landscape Uses: N.A.
Possible Pest Problems: N.A.
Plant Limitations: N.A.
Shippable in 2026: YES
Coffee Cups Elephant Ear (Colocasia esculenta Island Giants® Coffee Cups) are typically grown for their large tropical foliage that is uniquely cup shaped with dark stems. It is fascinating to watch the "cups" fill up in the rain and then dump out randomly and at different times: much better entertainment than TV and worth getting a little wet! These plants are subtropical herbaceous perennial bulbs native to areas with a summer monsoon season and dry winter. Coffee Cups Elephant Ear is hardy outside only to zone 8 as a perennial when established but considered an annual in zone 6a. During the growing season, fertilize, water regularly, and plant in full sun. Plant these bulbs in the ground at least 3-6" deep with 3-4" of mulch. Plants spread by running rhizomes but are easy to pull up if undesired. They can also be grown as a flowering summer patio plant. If growing as a potted plant and trying to overwinter, allowing the foliage to frost is ok, it will not kill the root system. However, do not allow the pot with rootball to freeze solid or go below 20 degrees for more than a few hours; move into a cold garage or basement over the winter with no watering. Cut back and allow to go dormant and place entire pot back out in April or May with a time-release fertilizer. If digging from the ground in colder zones, just save a big chunk with the dirt intact and place into a large pot in the garage. This plant can also be used as a marginal aquatic plant growing in shallow water. It can also grow as a bog plant needing constantly moist soil rich in organic matter. As a rain garden plant, it will thrive is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof during spring and summer periods of rain but then go dormant if the water hole dries out completely.