Mojito Taro (Colocasia esculenta 'Mojito')
kol-oh-KAY-shah ess-kew-LEN-tah 'Mojito'

Deciduous Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Clump-Forming, Upright in the Araceae Family

'Mojito' (USPP21,995) is a Florida-bred elephant ear discovered by Ty Richard Strode of Agri Starts Inc. as a naturally occurring branch sport of Colocasia esculenta 'Midnight' in a 2007 Apopka greenhouse. Its upright, clumping habit carries large green leaves irregularly speckled, blotched, and streaked in purple-black, on petioles striped with dark red-purple. Per its own patent description, flowering has never been observed on this cultivar, making it a true foliage-only plant.

Pros

  • Bold green-and-purple-black speckled foliage, unlike any solid-color Colocasia
  • Compact, clumping habit, doesn't spread by runners
  • No deadheading needed; essentially never flowers
  • Striking container or border thriller

Cons

  • Not reliably frost-hardy outside zone 8-10; needs winter protection or digging up further north
  • Patent's own measured size (about 35in) is notably smaller than this record's prior range, suggesting real-world garden size may vary by growing conditions
  • Potentially toxic if ingested; keep away from pets and children
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 48 inches tall. 24 - 48 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 8a - 10b (Usually hardy to 10° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tropical, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period Non-Flowering
Foliage Color
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with cannas, coleus, and other bold tropicals, or with ferns and fine-textured grasses for contrast.

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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 07/12
2024 : 02/08 - 07/06
2023 : 03/02 - 07/08

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!