elephant's ears 'Eric Smith'

Easy to grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade; tolerant of dry shade or poor soil in an open exposed position. Good light conditions will enable the best leaf colour to develop. Mulch in autumn

Remove faded flower spikes and older brown or damaged leaves in spring

Divide deteriorating clumps or root rhizome sections from them in early spring. After flowering or in autumn, lift and sever new plantlets from the ends of the long rhizomes and replant, leaving the parent to flower. Plantlets should flower the next year

Susceptible to vine weevil, leaf and bud eelworm, slugs and snails and some caterpillars

Leaf spot may be a problem and dry brown rot may affect the rhizomes