Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’)

Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’) is a conservatory or greenhouse grown type of plant that can grow 1.5m – 3m tall and 50cm – 1.5m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’).

This plant is commonly known as taro ‘Black Magic’.

This is a semi-evergreen plant that takes 5-10 years to reach full maturity.

Plant profile

Common name: taro ‘Black Magic’
Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’
Plant type: Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Clump-forming
Height: 1.5m – 3m
Spread: 50cm – 1.5m
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Poorly drained
Garden type: Architectural, Patio & Container Garden, Sub-tropical
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding

Seasonal colors

How to plant Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’) – Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to plant

In this section we will learn how to plant Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.

Soil

Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in clay, loam or sand.

• Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).

• The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.

• Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.

As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH acid or neutral.

Regarding drainage, Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’ likes to grow in humid or poorly drained soil.

Sunlight

Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’) is a plant that should be grown in full sun or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Taro ‘Black Magic’ (Colocasia esculenta ‘Black Magic’) – Dinesh Valke from Thane, India, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons