Most people in the south feed them Roundup. LOL
Lynn

These plants seem to be of the 'FEED ME' clan. The more you feed them the better they do. Of course if you have one of the common varieties down here they do tend to take over, but where it's cold enough to keep them under control just give them lots of food and water. Helps to keep the extra runners off in my experience. There are SO many beautiful and well-mannered EEs I think it's a real shame a few rowdies have convinced people they'd rather have something tidy like variegated privet.

It is weed here, I know. Mine stays in a corner of yard, they don't run. Probably I keep that spot really dry. I think, fertelizer for lawn should be good for Elephant Ear, for growing leaves, anyway. Sun Flower and Butterfly Bush are also very invasive, some parts of country don't have them, so people grow them. I guess, people like exotic; I can image HUGE Elepahnt Ear is pretty exotic in Kansas.

Water.