• Black Magic Elephant Ear plant showcasing deep purple to black color of large leaves.
Spring Preorder
Ships Spring 2027

Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

These inky blooms are spellbinding and surprising in the garden

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Shipped from Asheville, NC

About the Variety

Key Features

Heat Tolerant
Prefers Dappled Shade
Prefers Moist Soil
Clay Soil Tolerant
Container Friendly
Fast Growing
Easy to Grow
Medicinal
Edible
Reduces Erosion

Plant Details

BOTANICAL NAME

Colocasia esculenta

LIFE CYCLE

  • Perennial

SEED TYPE

  • Bulb

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

  • Partial Shade

BLOOM SEASON

  • Summer through Fall

GROWTH HABIT

  • Clumping
  • Upright

PLANT HEIGHT

  • Up to 72 inches

COLOR

  • Black

Fast and easy to grow, Elephant Ears or Colocasia esculenta, won't go unnoticed in your garden! Especially this striking cultivar in a deep, rich purple! Almost black! While the whole plant can grow up to 6 feet, each leaf can reach 2 to 3 feet in length and 1 feet in width! If the sheer size of this lovely foliage isn't enough to capture your attention, the truly unusual color of this variety makes Black Magic Elephant Ears a necessity for your garden!

  • • Tender Perennial; Bold and Striking Foliage Reminiscent of Elephant Ears
  • • Perfect Choice for Focal Point or Creating a Tropical-Style Garden; Grows All Summer Until Frost
  • • Thrives and Prefers Partial Shade

Planting Information

PLANTING SEASON

  • Spring

PLANTING DEPTH

  • 4 to 6 inches Deep

WATER NEEDS

  • High

PLANT SPACING

  • 2 to 4 feet

HARDINESS ZONES

  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11

COVERAGE

Amount Recommended Coverage
1 Bulb / Ships in Spring Up to 0.5 Sq. Ft
3 Bulbs / Ships in Spring Up to 1 Sq. Ft

Planting Guide

View our Elephant Ear Planting Guide to learn more.

Ready to Grow

We guarantee that our seeds & bulbs will be true to type and ready to thrive. If something doesn't grow as expected, we will make it right. Questions? Call us at 855-440-2929

All elephant ears
Grown by Our Community 

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic FAQs

    What size bulbs will I receive with Black Magic Elephant Ear?

    The bulbs for Black Magic Elephant Ear measure 5+ inches in circumference.

    Customer Reviews

    Overall rating: 2.3 / 5 from 12 reviews.

    Customer photo review of Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Took about 6 weeks indoors before sprouting. They do require lots of water. Lovely plant. Initially green turned to black but now it's mostly green. It's now early September and the plant is about 42" high. Would purchase again.

    Tami 5/5

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Was blooming beautifully in a pot, then I moved it to a bigger pot and the blooms kept dying. I recently stuck it in the ground, so time will tell! It does seem happier in its new spot!

    Denielle C. 4/5 Verified

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    I spent $25 for zero results. I am a certified master gardener. I've never had a bulb or a tuber not come up. I wish I'd read the reviews before ordering. I will not be shopping at Eden Brothers again. They obviously do not care about satisfied customers.

    Gwen 1/5 Verified

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello Gwen. Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention. It's so important to have feedback like this so we can continually improve our products. After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. Thanks for your time in sharing your experience with us!

    I had my doubts when they arrived last year. Shriveled, devoid of moisture and covered in hairy, dry roots. Never bloomed. Eden Brothers gave me credit, so I'm trying again this year. This years bulbs arrived in MUCH better shape and look very robust, so I'm optimistic.

    Brian H. 1/5 Verified

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello, Brian Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We appreciate you taking the time to reach out about your experience. Certainly keep us updated! If this variety does not produce well for you this year, reach back out to us and we’ll be happy to work on a means of resolution with you. Thanks for reaching out!

    I was very diligent in following the instructions but my black elephant ears never came up...very disappointed

    Diane C. 1/5

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello, Diane Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention as we strive to provide the best quality service and products to our gardeners around the country.

    Planted per instructions. Bulb never sprouted. I waited until almost July to unpot and check bulb as my green elephant ear small bulbs are sometimes slow to sprout. The bulb had rotted away.

    Bill 1/5

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello, Bill Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We appreciate your feedback as continuing to work with our gardeners around the country allows us to actively update our products and processes. We are delighted to hear that you’ve requested a store credit and will resume gardening with us! Feel free to reach back out with any other questions or concerns.

    Followed all growing instructions an the bulb rotted. Nothing ever ruined. So disappointing!

    Janelle 1/5

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello, Janelle Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention as we strive to provide the best quality service and products to our gardeners around the country.

    I planted along with another variety of elephant ear and they came up fine! The Black Magic never came up. Very disappointed!!

    Robin G. 1/5

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello, Robin Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We appreciate your feedback as continuing to work with our gardeners around the country allows us to actively update our products and processes. We are delighted to hear that you’ve requested a store credit and will resume gardening with us! Feel free to reach back out with any other questions or concerns.

    I ordred three of these. First, for a plant that can get up to 6 feet, I would have assumed the bulbs would have been a bit more mature. All packs, the bulbs were golf ball sized at most. I put them in pots and followed the soil/water instructions. Not a single one came up. After about 2.5 months, I dug them up to see if any roots had even started. They had all rotted. Don't recommend due to the size and the fact that they just didn't grow. Had alright luck with the giants, but these were a complete bust and waste of money. Since they are also supposed to be these large plants, I would think somewhere in the description they should say how small they are and that they are very much babies separated off more mature bulbs and it would take you years for them to reach their full size. I'll try a local nursery next year. They were packed nice though, I'll give them that.

    Vincent P. 1/5 Verified

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

    Store owner replied: Hello, Vincent Thank you for your review of Eden Brothers! We greatly appreciate you bringing this to our attention. It's so important to have feedback like this so we can continually improve our products and processes. After speaking with our Customer Service Team, it seems we were able to resolve this for you. Thanks for your time in sharing your experience with us!

    I am in georgia, zone 7. I purchased this bulb back in late-March and immediately placed it in a pot. It did not poke through the soil until about June 1st. It is now June 15th and there are a few leaves from 2 different stems. They are not black yet, leaves are still green but they are still gorgeous and I am in love. I understand that from here on out, if they are well fed and kept in the right amount of light, they will eventually turn darker. Overall, patience is key!

    Seq 5/5 Verified

    Elephant Ear Bulbs - Black Magic

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