deerslayer08, if they are still firm I would give them a try just to see what you might get? If you do a google search I believe they are related and used in certain dishes from HI?

Yes, they are used to make poi in Hawaii. They like even more wet feet than elephant ears so keep moist. I got some kind of hairy root from the philipino store a couple of weeks ago and stuck it in a pot and it has leaves coming out all over so give it a try. Another thing you can try is ginger root if you can find some that is good and firm and you can still see a few hairy roots on it even if they are dried up it will grow new ones. Just plant shallow and keep moist.

mine looked like miniature, elongated elephant ear leaves on long stalks last year. I remember maybe ten years ago my mother used to plant what she called elephant ear/caladium under the deck and the leaves were MASSIVE, with shorter stalks. my taro never got a fraction that size.

I'd say definitely give them a try, but don't be disappointed if they just rot, lol. they're there to be delicious. taro root is used in a ton of asian cooking. mmm...

though I am inspired by your idea and have been meaning to do the same thing for a while now. we have the most amazing asian supermarket a couple towns over. gonna have to call some friends and pay them a visit!

good luck!

Ria

That's our group! Everyone else looks at it as food & we all pick it up & think "Can I grow it?" (grin)

Linda

I have taro and malanga growing in the yard around my ponds and they look just like EE's. I have a hard time telling them apart. I buy all kinds of roots and tubers at the ethnic grocery stores.
Karyn

The roundish ones are Alocasia esculenta -- your garden variety taro or elephant ears. I bought some too. I started them in pots of barely moist soil and kept them warm.

You can also try Malanga root, which I believe is Xanthosoma something or other.

Also, Galangal root is similar to ginger but larger.

Mine was round and hairy. John said what is it and I said I don't know blahbahhlahaa or something, lol. It does look like miniature elephant ears. I also picked up a ginger root and a ginseng root this morning. The lady thought I was crazy when I asked her if I could grow them, lol.

I thought taro is colocasia, and elephant ear is caladium? I suppose realistically they're all so similar that mixing and matching terms is excusable, LOL.

Ria

Caladiums are sometimes called EE's but I've usually heard calocasias and alocasias being called EE. I've also heard of caladiums being called Angel Wings. To me caladiums look really different because the foliage is so much thinner and usually highly colored. They are all in the same family (Araceae) though. Kristy one of the ginsing roots I planted is blooming! Not much to look at but I was surprised to see it. I haven't had any luck growing galangal but the culinary ginger grows well it just doesn't flower that I'm aware of and the foliage isn't as pretty as the ornamental gingers. I have a big pot of it and it does smell great whenever you brush up against it.
Karyn

Thanks for giving me hope, lol. I don't mind if it doesn't flower if it has nice foliage.