Elephant Ear Seeds?

My elephant ear's have been blooming (these are the common green ones found throughout Florida), Colocasia Esculenta. After the bloom there is a bulb left and inside the bulb are little things that I think are seeds that look like small chips of wood. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of them, but I can if needed.

Questions: Are these the seeds?

If so, has anyone grown elephant ears from seeds? How long is germination on them? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks much!

Onalee

1st. off, I'm so envious that you live in a climate that will allow these to bloom. Plus from my research, getting them to bloom isn't easy or so that's what I've heard. So, I'm NO HELP re: starting seeds.

BUT, ours multiply like crazy in the form of the bulbs. In my zone, we have to dig them up EVERY FALL. Man it'sa pain but they're worth it. Once ours have dried up a little, we see many little bulbs/tubors that are easily seperated from the main bulb. You probably see little ears form off to the side of the main plant and those are your new ones. You can pull them up and transplant them if your wanting more to spread around.
We started off with 5 huge bulbs and over the last 4-5 years, we have dozens not including the couple dozen we've given away.

Sorry I couldn't answer your initial question but hopefully this info maybe helpful.
JD

Thanks JD -
Yes, ours do multiply with bulbs, as well - I was wanting to know about the seeds because someone had asked me about getting seeds and I just wasn't sure if those were seeds and if they were, if they would germinate, etc.

Thanks again!

Onalee

Your doing your elephant ears very well to get them to bloom according to "Paul James on Gardening by the Yard". I've been growing them for so many years and they do so well but never have flowered. I'm impressed and would love to see a picture if you could get 1.
I'm sorry I'm no help with the seeds, I can't find any info on them either:(
JD

Here's a picture of the bloom . .

Onalee

WOW that's a beauty. The Garden Guy said they were "insignifigant" but I disagree bigtime. I wonder what I'd have to do to get mine to bloom? Is your in a water garden by chance? I'm thinking mine aren't in the ground long enough to the blooming state. Man I hate living in this garden zone. It's too short for so many of my favorites. I guess I should be happy as it'sa longer season than many have.
If you get a picture of a seed, I'dd sure like to see what they look like and how big they are.
Thanks for the photo;)
JD

Hi JD -

No, mine aren't in a water garden. My husband used to grow wigglers (fish bait) and they are in one of his old worm beds. Although there are sprinklers there, they really don't get watered all that much, but the worm bed does hold moisture pretty well since the soil in there is peat. I wonder if the bulbs themselves have to be a certain age before they will bloom because the first blooms I ever remember seeing on them started just a couple of years ago - I never had seen any blooms before that and I've had these elephant ears for many years - don't know how many any more - I've moved them from place to place each time I moved. Only the largest elephant ears bloom - so you may still have a chance, it may just be that they need to be really old before they'll bloom.

I looked again the other day for some seeds, but none seemed to be ready - I guess when I find some I'll just have to plant what I think are the seeds and find out if they come up since no one seems to know . . I'll take a picture of them when I get some.

By the way, I would definately say the blooms are **NOT** "insignificant" - I think they're really lovely and are actually quite large.

Onalee

Oh I hope you understood me correctly. I think the flowers are incredible! That's why I brought up what the "Garden Guy" said, I couldn't believe he would say something like that was insignifigant. He is a big meathead in my book for saying that, I think it'sa show stopper and sure caught my attention.

I live in Okla and my elephant ears has at least five blooms on each bulb. I just planted this spring. I have not got the nerve to open one of the bulbs yet for fear it would be too soon. Can anyone tell me if the seeds will germinate?

Well, I planted some of the things that I think are seeds and so far none have germinated . .. but I have no idea how long they may take to germinate!

If they do, I'll certainly post it!

Onalee

Onalee, go to the tropical forum. There is lots of information on Colocasia pollenation and seed propagation. If pollenation occurred, the berries will turn red/orange. They will be way in the base of the spathe. If you get berries, the seeds are inside the berry. They have to be removed and cleaned before planting.

Your flower is spectacular.

Hmm, well, I got no berries - just things that look like little chips of brown wood in there, which I figured were the seeds.

Thanks for the advice, I go over there and check it out.

thanks,
Onalee