Royal Hawaiian Waikiki Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta 'Waikiki')
kol-oh-KAY-shah ess-kew-LEN-tah 'Waikiki'

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

'Waikiki' is a patented (USPP34,615) elephant ear from the Royal Hawaiian series, bred by Dr. John J. Cho ('White Lava' x an unnamed seedling). Its glossy, sagittate leaves emerge creamy white and mature to pale cream patterned with bold pink-to-red-purple veins that deepen with age, set off by glossy dark purple petioles. A non-spreading clump-former, it was named an All-America Selections winner and makes a vivid container or border thriller.

Pros

  • Boldly variegated cream-and-purple-veined foliage
  • Compact, clumping habit, doesn't spread by runners
  • All-America Selections winner
  • Thrives in sun or shade with consistently moist soil

Cons

  • Not reliably frost-hardy outside zone 8-11; needs winter protection or digging up further north
  • Best color develops with consistent moisture and some direct sun
  • Potentially toxic if ingested; keep away from pets and children
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 3 - 4 feet tall. 30 - 42 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 8b - 10b (Usually hardy to 15° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Colorful Foliage, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Insignificant Flowers, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tropical, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period Rarely Blooms
Flower Color Insignificant
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.

Want More photos of this plant? Try Google Image Search!
 


Pricing and Availability History

Click a label to toggle visibility for that size

Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 08/09
2024 : 02/08 - 07/06

© North Shore Plant Club 2026. Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions.

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.


Benefits of Membership

Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:

  • The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
  • More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
  • "No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!

Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.

Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club

To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.

Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!


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!