The picture above shows a stand of taro,
garden planted in a shady area. The lady
in the picture is 5 foot tall.
Green Goddess
Colocasia esculenta

One of the largest of the taros, it will grow to 5 feet tall with a leaf span of 2 feet wide by 3 feet long. It will grow in sun or shade, but the ground needs to be kept moist. If you plan on container planting this taro for the water garden, use at least a 5 gallon bucket with heavy clay soil. These elephant ears can get very large, and need more root space. Also with their huge leaves they are prone to being upset by strong winds and need all the weight possible in the container.
Hardy to zone 8

Black Princess
or Imperial Taro

For something to add an eye-catching difference to your water garden is is hard to beat the Black Princess Elephant Ear. This plant has dark green leaves, veins and stems with everything in-between overlaid with black, creating a sort of window pane look. Occasionally the leaves come out split down the middle with one half green and one half black. Black Princess is a very unusual plant and a real eye catcher that everyone should look at seriously. 

Colocasia affinis varfontanessi
(Colocasia esculenta illustri)


Larger Picture 40.4KB

Hight: to 4 ft.
Width: to 3 ft.
Light: full sun to part shade
Water: wet soil to 6 inches of water
Hardy to zone 8

Black Magic Taro
Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic'

Larger Picture 44.9KB
Hardy to zone 8

"Black Magic" is a strikingly beautiful Taro, with it's velvety purple black leaves. Some describe it as velvety black charcoal leaves on burgundy black stems. It is extremely gorgeous planted in a pond or by the edge of a pond. When mature the large elephant ear type leaves will droop over the water with a sort of Caribbean look. Black Taro helps break up that all green look of most pond plants.

Hight: 2 to 6 ft.
Width: 2 to 6 ft.
Water Depth: wet soil to 6 inches
Light: Part shade to full sun

This is an exceptionally beautiful elephant ear. Striking ivory to off white mottling on luscious green leaves make this something everyone will notice. Hilo Beauty is a great choice to brighten the shore of a shaded water garden. This speckled jewel doesn't like a lot of water on its roots, so don't submerge it. Will do fantastic in a pot on your shady porch or your shady flower bed. 

Hardy to zone 9.

Hilo Beauty
Alocasia amazonica

Photo and text from Pondgirl .com
Violet Stemmed Taro
Colocasia esculenta var. fontanessi

Photo and text from Pondgirl .com

This is a great showoff plant for those who like displays of something unusual. The deep violet stems contrast with huge velvety green leaves giving it a mysterious look. In a shaded pond you see the leaves immediately and think they are floating in air. The stems fade into the shade and become almost invisible, until you take a closer look. Then you see the lovely deep violet stems. Your Violet Stemmed Taro will get lots of oooh's and aaah's.

Hardy to zone 9