That variety is known for green or even white veins with the green often taking over large portions of the leaves originating from the veins. They are often advertised as green leaves with black variegation.

I have no experience growing this variety, but my best guess is you have a plant which demonstrates a wide range of coloration based upon light, water and nutrient levels.

If you want it to be black you will have to play around with varying levels of those things to see what produces what. Or if you really want a black elephant ear just get a black runner or black magic elephant ear, those don't have the green tendencies.

"deep black when I bought it"

My guess is that most plant production allows a minimum of sun (under shade screens) to keep the colors dark and saturated for the retail eye-catchiness. I think sun level would dominate over water and nutrients in most cases.

Bring them home, give them a lot more sun, colors fade. Some plants' sun-tender leaves even burn up, but the next generation comes out sun-hardy (but still not as color saturated as in the store).

I grow COlocasia antiquorum "Illustris" also known as Imperial Taro in both sun and shade. If you wanted a totally black ear, you bought the wrong one. Illustris is SUPPOSED to be green and black.

The totally black one is Colocasia escuelenta "Black Magic" (also known as Black Princess, Black Runner form, etc)

Black Magic attains best black color in FULL SUN
Illustris likes a bit if shade to have best black on green color but NOT full shade

Thank you all for the info, now I know this is normal =) I was just worried that it would go all green on me! I am collecting black plants, and found this specimen at a local nursery. I have seen 'Black Magic' in catalogs, but never found anything like it locally before. I am in a rural area, and the garden centers and nurseries around here are not big on variety =)
I do have more questions now! What would be the best way to overwinter the plant? Should I try to keep it as a houseplant, or would I be better off just keeping the tuber? It is quite large now, about 3' tall, in a gallon pot. Also, if I just keep the tuber, what would be the best way to store it?
Also, how can I divide and/or propigate it? Will it flower and set seed?
Thanx again =) GW

I'd vote houseplant. They really don;t make that big of a tuber. SUnny window is good. Or you could let it go dormant and out the pot in a place that won't freeze.

These offset easily and run. You should be able to divide it next year after it comes back up and gets going. I have never heard of anyone growing it frem seeds

Hi,
Sorry if this has been approached before, I did not see much discussion in my search of the archives.

I just purchased 2 Black Magic colocassia (sp). I have the regular ole green elephant ears that I have had for several years now. I just dig up the tubers(?) in late fall and keep them in the basement until spring and replant.

Last year I bought a Black Magic, but when I went to dig up the tuber in the fall, there was nothing but roots. so I did not have anything to overwinter. Is this typical for Black Magic? How does one overwinter the roots? I do not have room to bring them in as house plants during the winter.

Thanks,
Hal

Hi Hal, I have overwintered Black magic here in Michigan.... Just stick it pot and all in a cool room for the winter, around March start watering and feeding it.. it will come back with a vengance.

Sorry garden_witch, I did not mean to highjack your post! I thought I was starting a new thread.

Anyway, thanks shiollie.

Do I just let the pot remain dry through the winter, like I would with storing the other tubers?

Glad to know I can keep them going for next year. I was able to get a very good price for Black Magic at Lowes. $12.50 each, already about 2.5 ft stands with 3-4 leaves.

Hal

hey everybody:

I noticed this thread and since it was about my question
I thought I would give it a shot. I have several Black Magic
Elephant's Ears growing in my garden. I have grown them for
several years. I was noticing in looking at my garden pictures last Month they had a rich dark Purplish Black
leaves. They seem to have changed color and are becoming more greenish with purply veins. I also noticed my Little
Blackie sweet Potato vine is doing the same thing... and
my Futurity Pink Cannas, which also have the darker leaves
all turning more greenish. I am wondering if the extreme
heat we have been experiencing might be causing this. It
has never happened to me before. I am a very experienced gardener. I water and fertilize regularly, and everything appears to be very healthy and growing very well. I wonder
what might be causing it. I quess when....if ever Lol it
cools down if they will revert back to thier original leaf
color. Any opinions?

I have lots of 'Black runners' in my garden. The temp. here is usually high 80's-90's year round.The plants are very dark and most are planted to get full sun until approx.2PM.
I just love their contrasting colours beside my 'climbing birds nest ferns'.
They do suffer from 'high winds'up to 70MPH, at the end of the year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Black runners