Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris'
Imperial Taro
Typical UK price
£18
Limited data
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 0
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- 2 Jul 2026
- On record
- 1
Cutting/cormEstimate
7cm1 sold
12cmEstimate
MatureEstimate
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
for a 7cm pot
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About Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris'
Illustris, also known as Imperial Taro, carries a dark purple-black leaf blade with vivid green veins tracing along every vein, a stained-glass effect that has kept it one of the most enduringly popular Colocasia colour selections since it entered cultivation. It shares the vigorous, fast-growing habit of the plain species.
Native range
Cultivated colour selection of Colocasia esculenta.
Classification
- Genus
- Colocasia
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Variegated
- Growth habit
- Upright clumping, tuberous
- Form of
- Colocasia esculenta
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- Large peltate heart-shape
- Leaf length
- 30-50 cm
- Leaf width
- 25-40 cm
- Petiole colour
- Dark purple-green
- Venation
- Vivid green veins outlining each vein against a dark blade
- Texture
- Matte, slightly waxy
- Variegation
- Dark purple-black leaf blade with vivid green veins tracing along the venation
- Growth habit
- Upright clumping from a central tuber/corm
Recent UK sales
For sale in the UK
By month
| Month | Median | Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | £18 | 1 |
Before you buy
- The plain species is inexpensive and widely available as corms or potted plants each spring
- For 'Black Magic' or other named colour selections, confirm the leaf colour in photos matches the named form
- Check corms are firm, not soft or mouldy, if buying bare-root
- All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic if ingested raw; keep away from pets and children
Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris' care
- Substrate
- Rich, moisture-retentive mix: 50% potting compost, 30% loam, 20% perlite. Tolerates boggy conditions better than most aroids.
- Watering
- Keep consistently moist; this species tolerates and often prefers wetter soil than typical houseplants, even standing water at the base outdoors.
- Humidity
- 50-70%, tolerates average household humidity well outdoors or in bright rooms.
- Feeding
- Balanced liquid fertiliser at full strength every 2-3 weeks during the growing season, a hungry, fast-growing plant.
- Repotting
- Annually while actively growing, given its rapid growth and corm expansion.
Common problems
Yellowing lower leaves
Cause: Natural leaf turnover as the plant grows
Fix: Remove spent leaves; only investigate if multiple leaves yellow at once
Spider mites
Cause: Dry indoor air
Fix: Increase humidity and treat with insecticidal soap
Gear for this plant
- Flowers of Sulphur, 99.99% PurityDusted onto a fresh corm or rhizome cut to guard against rot before repotting.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Digital PAR/PPFD Light MeterMeasures usable light at leaf height in µmol/m²/s, rather than relying on the eye's sense of brightness.
- Humidity Dome, Heavy-Duty Germination KitVented propagation dome for holding humidity around fresh cuttings.
How to propagate Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris'
- Methods
- Corm division, Offset (corm/pup). Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Easy. Forgiving of missed waterings, average home humidity, and imperfect light. A solid pick for beginners or low-fuss collections.
- Time to establish
- 1-3 months
- True from cuttings
- Yes. Cuttings keep the cultivar's character.
- Notes
- Produces offset cormlets readily, which separate easily from the parent corm. One of the easiest aroids to divide.