Taro is a staple crops of the Pacific Islands and is also very popular throughout many parts of Asia. The delicious tuber can substitute potato in almost any dish, baked, boiled or made into chips. Its very ornamental heart-shaped leaves make a great spinach when cooked thoroughly. Note that Taro leaves contain a oxalic acid, which will cause irritation to the throat if the leaves are consumed without sufficient cooking.
T he plant prefers moist, deep soil and it grows well in both full shade and full sun.
While in the Pacific Islands ( the place of origin for the Taro) there are hundreds of different varieties, in commercial production in Australia we generally see two main cultivars, which to simplify the diversity have been separated into:
Be aware that the Taro looks quite similar to the Elephants Ear which is a common ornamental plant but is NOT edible.
A staple crops throughout Asia and the Pacific. The delicious small tuber can substitute potato in almost any dish. Its heart-shaped leaves make for an attractive plant that grows well in shade and sun. Prefers moist soil.
A large tuber, sometimes reaching up to 3-4 kg. Taro a staple crops of the Pacific. The delicious tuber can substitute potato in almost any dish. Its heart-shaped leaves make for an attractive ornamental plant that grows well in both shade and sun. Prefers moist soil.
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 1 | Low | No | Evergreen | most of year |
We welcome your Tips on Taro. Share Your Tip.
To keep your rootstock through the Winter, in May re-plant into Styrene Boxes with plenty of mulch, plant out again in Sept into position. They will be months more advanced for cropping and have minimul losses. Leaves for Lu are also available all year. | Jim Beaton - Childers, QLD 31-Dec-2005
Taro grown in a large fishpond is relished by koi. Plant against pond side and cover with rocks, fish eat the emerging roots and it adds to the eco system.Float polystyrene foam boxes full of water loving edible plants in the pond. | Joyce Crouchley - Boya, WA 08-Aug-2007
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