Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Easiest EE to Overwinter, 0 by bwilliams

bwilliams wrote:
I have testing Colocasias outside in zone 6 for close to 18 years. If you plan to over winter them outside here is my best list to date. This list will be changing soon.

Colocasia Pink China Well established plants returned in zone 6 for 16 years friend in Ohio has had good luck for 9 years some protection on his I believe.
Colocasia Black Pearl could be hardier or just as hardy as pink china over wintered here for 6 years.
Colocasia Big Dipper over winters with protection 6 inches of leaf compost 8 years in Kentucky
Colocasia Illustrius some luck with heavy mulch last 4 years here
Colocasia Dark Star shows promise from the last two winter with and with out mulch could be extremely hardy getting tested this year. 3 years tested
Colocasia common form esculenta if protect or mild winter. 9 years test sometimes dies
Colocasia jacks giant some good results more test need to be done. 2 years some mixed results

I have also over wintered these but with a lot of protection I would consider them less hardy and only survive with a lot of protection.
Col Fontanesii
Col. Miranda
Col. black magic

Surprisingly I have had Alocasia Odora the form commonly called macrorrhiza over winter for the last 5 years here with 1 foot of leaf compost.


Here is a photo of Pink China returning after a long winters nape. It can sometimes be difficult in pots and preforms much better in open ground.