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Elephant's ear is a frost-tender perennial. In Iowa, the bulb should be planted in mid-spring after the last frost, then dug up in the fall after the first frost and wintered inside in a cool, dry location. The plant rarely produces flowers, but it has large and attractive leaves. It took several years for elephant's ear to grow well in my garden since balancing the moisture requirements can be tricky (too little water or too much water can kill the plant). If you are looking for a plant to provide an intermediate challenge to your gardening skills, elephant's ears are a good choice. Plus, they will lend an air of the tropics to your Iowa garden!

Please note that the Zones listed above are USDA Hardiness Zones and are only given as a rough indication of whether a plant will grow and thrive in your area. Temperature variations and unusual weather conditions can affect plant survival. To assist plant survival during the winter, you may wish to place mulch over the areas in question or plant the flowers in an area away from walls or cement. Additionally, digging up bulbs and roots to overwinter indoors may be preferrable to keeping them in the ground.