Diamond Head Elephant Ear

Leaf Detail Portrait

Colocasia esculenta 'Diamond Head'

Diamond Head Elephant Ear

Quick Facts

growth HabitUpright clumping, tuberous
mature SizeMedium to Large (0.8-1.2m)
lightFull sun to bright indirect light
humidityAverage to high (50-70%)
temperature18-29°C
difficultyEasy
growth SpeedFast
View Care Guide
Part of the Colocasia esculenta familyCultivar Selection££ · UncommonMediumCultivated colour selection of Colocasia esculenta.

Morphology

leaf ShapeLarge peltate heart-shape, upward-cupped
leaf Length30-45 cm
leaf Width25-38 cm
petiole ColorDark purple
venationSubtle, obscured by the dark blade colour
textureGlossy
variegationGlossy near-black solid purple-black leaf, upward-cupped shape
growth HabitUpright clumping from a central tuber/corm

About

Diamond Head carries a glossy, near-black solid purple-black leaf held in a distinctive upward-cupped shape, on long dark purple stems. It's a fast-growing, broadleaf selection that makes a dramatic dark accent in a mixed border or large container.

Market Analysis

Auction History & Retail Data

Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.

No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.

Before You Buy

Shared checklist for Colocasia esculenta and its cultivated forms

  • The plain species is inexpensive and widely available as corms or potted plants each spring
  • For 'Black Magic' or other named colour selections, confirm the leaf colour in photos matches the named form
  • Check corms are firm, not soft or mouldy, if buying bare-root
  • All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic if ingested raw — keep away from pets and children

Propagation Guide

Growing More Plants

Shared across every form of Colocasia esculenta — see this form's own Morphology for variegation-specific propagation notes.

Difficulty
Easy
Time to Establish

1-3 months

True From Cuttings
Yes

Cultivar character is preserved through vegetative cuttings

Produces offset cormlets readily, which separate easily from the parent corm. One of the easiest aroids to divide.

Care Guide

Growing Conditions

General care shared across all forms of Colocasia esculenta — cultivated forms may need brighter light or higher humidity than the plain species; check this form's Quick Facts above.

Substrate

Rich, moisture-retentive mix: 50% potting compost, 30% loam, 20% perlite. Tolerates boggy conditions better than most aroids.

Watering

Keep consistently moist — this species tolerates and often prefers wetter soil than typical houseplants, even standing water at the base outdoors.

Humidity

50-70%, tolerates average household humidity well outdoors or in bright rooms.

Fertilising

Balanced liquid fertiliser at full strength every 2-3 weeks during the growing season — a hungry, fast-growing plant.

Repotting

Annually while actively growing, given its rapid growth and corm expansion.

Common Problems

Problem

Yellowing lower leaves

Cause

Natural leaf turnover as the plant grows

Fix

Remove spent leaves; only investigate if multiple leaves yellow at once

Problem

Spider mites

Cause

Dry indoor air

Fix

Increase humidity and treat with insecticidal soap

Retail Price?The average price across tracked UK retailers (nurseries and specialty stores).
Not tracked
Not currently stocked by tracked UK retailers
Market Trend?Calculated by comparing average auction sales from the past 30 days against the preceding 60 days.
Not enough history to calculate a trend

How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses online sold listings converted to GBP at current exchange rates, excluding extreme outliers to ensure a fair-value guide. Falls back to UK retail average when auction data is unavailable.