Where are you located?

Venice. About 1/2 a mile from the beach. Maybe it's not salt tolerant?

No, they are not salt tolerant, but 1/2 mile away should be o.k., unless you have salt in your ground water. Do you have a well or city water?

The irrigation system runs off a well. The first year it grew like gangbusters, neighbors were amazed how quickly it covered the fence. That's why I'm confused at it's sudden state.

I lived in Venice for awhile, and when we had an especially dry winter, the water table would get low and more saline. With normal rainfall amounts, the salt is diluted. If that is the problem, deep watering it with fresh water weekly may save it. Otherwise, you can grow it in a large pot where the sprinklers don't hit. Have your other plants had a white residue on them from the sprinklers? A lot of people think that is sulfur, but it can also be salt.

Hmmm....you may be onto something. I've noticed a bed of elephant ears don't look very happy either.

Elephant ears die back in the winter. They are supposed to do that.

Oh, ok. I've had a mound of them for a few years and they've never looked this bad. A neighbor's look fine.

How often are you watering? Elephant ears like a lot of water. If it's any consolation, my giant Xanthasoma looked like crap this year too. I'm taking it out, because it's not worth the hassle. Mine doesn't clump like it should. It sends out long runners that put up babies all over the garden. I'm tired of fighting it. I planted Taro this year, and am hoping it will do better.