Elephant ear

Elephant ear is a large, long‑lived perennial that can grow up to three metres tall. It has a thick, fleshy rhizome that produces a milky sap, and mature plants develop stout, trunk‑like stems marked with leaf scars. The lower part of the stem often lies along the ground.

The leaves are very large, shiny and leathery, deep green and arrow‑shaped, with prominent veins and occasional white patches. Fragrant creamy‑yellow to orange flower spikes are held inside small, green, boat‑shaped bracts and develop into bright orange or scarlet berries.

Elephant ear spreads slowly, mainly through clump expansion and limited seed drop near the parent plant, or occasionally via water. It’s most commonly spread by intentional planting, dumped vegetation, and soil movement, allowing new infestations to establish.

Elephant ear is long‑lived and forms dense patches that smother the ground in damp sites across most soil types. It persists under regenerating canopy, is drought‑resistant once established, and can recover from heavy damage. It’s poisonous so stock avoid it, allowing the plant to dominate grazed areas.

By forming dense ground cover, elephant ear prevents native seedlings from establishing. While it’s unlikely to poison native fauna, it can significantly alter habitats. It’s most likely to invade wetlands, stream and river margins, heavily disturbed shrubland and forest, damp frost‑free open areas, and regenerating ex‑pasture.