Native to India and Tropical Asia, where they are commonly grown for food; but mostly grown elsewhere for their tropical-looking foliage. They are a close relative of caladiums, but only have green leaves which are up to ten times larger than caladium leaves.
Elephant Ears get their common name from the leaves, which are shaped like a large ear or shield. Some other common names include coco yam, taro and in the southern United States, it is called a dasheen or malanga. In colder zones these tender bulbs should be grown as an annual or houseplant.