A couple of years ago I was strolling through my friend Monique's fabulous garden with a glass of wine when I was stopped dead in my tracks by a huge gorgeous mass of glossy deep purple foliage undulating in the summer afternoon breeze. Like a beacon is was guiding me across the garden, beckoning me to come hither. Even from a distance I could tell it wasn't 'Black Magic'-but what was it? I just had to know. And more importantly where could I get one?
As it turned out, it was a variety of Colocasia I had never heard of called 'Diamond Head'. Monique found it at some obscure back road garden center she happened to pass on the way to somewhere else. Believe it or not but we often find unusual plants by stopping at off the beaten track roadside stands and seasonal greenhouses. Unfortunately she was only able to get one plant that year. Last year I was finally able to find it for sale. In mid May I purchased a teeny plant in a 4" pot and planted it in a mixed container along my back border. The picture below was taken June 30th. It was already a star.
On October 6th, despite taking a bit of a hit from Hurricane Irene at the end of August, the plant was a monster and still going strong. A definite winner! In late fall, I dug it out of the pot, tossed it in a plastic bag in the basement for the winter, watered sparingly and crossed my fingers. By some stroke of luck it survived to grace my garden another year! So...we have luscious bold foliage and season long interest on a focal point plant-star qualities in any garden. Just grow it!
See our website for other Colocasias, www.royalhawaiiancolocasia.com
ReplyDeletecheers, John
Can you explain further on "tossed it in a plastic bag in the basement for the winter, watered sparingly"
ReplyDeletewith leaves? just corm? watered sparingly all winter?
THANKS
If I remember correctly I had to do this hastily just before a freak October snow storm we had last year. I cut back most of the leave but not all and dug it out of the container with whatever soil was stuck to the rootball. I used a plastic garbage bag cinched loosely at the opening so the leaves were exposed. It probably spent a few weeks in my dark unheated garage then got moved to my basement (also dark). It stays semi dormant. Once a month I sparingly water all my dark basement plants. In late April I start moving them to a shady spot on the patio for a week or two before replanting into containers.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note, I've had very little luck wintering over the more common 'Black Magic' or 'Illustris' using this method. And no luck with Mojito. But my basement stays in the mid to low 60s all winter and some of these plants would probably prefer a cooler dormancy. It can a crap shoot but for some plants it's worth a try.
If you have a pot you can lift, I've also had good luck with tossing the whole pot in the basement.
Thanks for reading!