Mature size & growth rate

How big does Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) (Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris') get?

Also called Imperial Taro, Imperial Elephant Ear, Black Elephant Ear, Illustris Elephant Ear.

More about colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro)

About Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro)

Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris' · also called Imperial Taro, Imperial Elephant Ear · tropical

Colocasia 'Illustris' is a tuberous tropical grown for huge heart-shaped, blackish-purple leaves veined in bright green. It wants warmth, bright light and constantly moist, rich soil, plus regular feeding. It is toxic: the ASPCA lists Colocasia esculenta as poisonous to cats, dogs and horses, so keep it well away from pets.

Mature size: Typically 0.9-1.5 m (3-5 ft) tall and 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft) wide, with individual leaves reaching up to about 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) long.

Watch for — Yellowing leaves and mushy stems: Usually overwatering or cold, especially when the plant is slowing for dormancy. Cut back on water in autumn/winter and check the corm and roots for rot.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) grows on a tree's timeline and scale — indoors it becomes a tall, trunked statement plant rather than a tabletop one. Indoors and in a pot, expect typically 0.9-1.5 m (3-5 ft) tall and 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft) wide, with individual leaves reaching up to about 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) long.. A pot, your light levels and a little pruning are what set the final size in a home, far more than the plant's theoretical potential.

It gains real height on a trunk or main stem, adding a tier of leaves a year and eventually reaching for the ceiling — this is a plant you grow up, not out.

Growth rate and years to mature

Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) is a moderate grower. Realistically, expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Its feeding profile backs this up: heavy feeder. apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer, or enrich the soil with compost and slow-release feed; high-nitrogen feed supports the large leaves. stop feeding in autumn and winter while growth slows or the plant is dormant.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) grows.

How to keep colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

The decisive tool is the secateurs: colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) can be topped (cut the main growing tip) to cap its height and force a bushier, shorter shape.
Keeping it deliberately pot-bound in a snug container slows the whole plant and limits ultimate size.
Prune in spring so it heals fast; remove the tallest leader back to a node to reset the height.
Expect to top or hard-prune it every year or two — left alone it heads for the ceiling.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Pick the new height. Decide how tall you want colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) and find a leaf node or branch point just below that.
Top the main stem. Cut the main growing tip cleanly just above that node in spring; this permanently caps the height and forces side branches.
Keep the pot snug. Avoid jumping to a much bigger pot — a slightly restricted rootball keeps the whole plant smaller.
Maintain the shape. Prune back the tallest new leaders each spring to hold it at the height you chose.

How to grow colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) the accelerators are:

It already wants the bright light it needs; warmth, a yearly pot-up and spring-summer feed are the accelerators.
Pot up a size every year or two while young; restricted roots are the main thing holding height back.
Feed regularly through the growing season and keep it warm — height comes from sustained good conditions.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro):

The top leaves pressing against or bent by the ceiling — the classic "this is now too tall indoors" sign.
It has to be moved away from a light source it has literally outgrown.
Roots filling the largest pot you can reasonably keep indoors — at that point it is top-or-prune or move it outside (if hardy).

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) size — frequently asked questions

How big does colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) get?

Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) reaches typically 0.9-1.5 m (3-5 ft) tall and 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft) wide, with individual leaves reaching up to about 60-90 cm (2-3 ft) long. when grown indoors. It gains real height on a trunk or main stem, adding a tier of leaves a year and eventually reaching for the ceiling — this is a plant you grow up, not out.

Is colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) slow or fast growing?

Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) is a moderate grower. Expect three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Colocasia 'Illustris' (Imperial Taro) grows on a tree's timeline and scale — indoors it becomes a tall, trunked statement plant rather than a tabletop one.

How long does colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) take to reach full size?

Roughly three to six years to reach mature indoor size, gaining a steady amount each growing season. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) smaller?

The decisive tool is the secateurs: colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) can be topped (cut the main growing tip) to cap its height and force a bushier, shorter shape. Keeping it deliberately pot-bound in a snug container slows the whole plant and limits ultimate size. Prune in spring so it heals fast; remove the tallest leader back to a node to reset the height. Expect to top or hard-prune it every year or two — left alone it heads for the ceiling.

How can I make colocasia 'illustris' (imperial taro) grow bigger or faster?

It already wants the bright light it needs; warmth, a yearly pot-up and spring-summer feed are the accelerators. Pot up a size every year or two while young; restricted roots are the main thing holding height back. Feed regularly through the growing season and keep it warm — height comes from sustained good conditions.