Taro
Colocasia esculenta
Last reviewed: September 2026
Taro is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
part sun
Water
high
Size
24"–48" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
N/A
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaColocasia esculenta produces large, heart-shaped leaves that create a bold tropical appearance in the garden. This moisture-loving perennial thrives in partial sun and requires consistent watering to maintain its lush foliage. The plant forms substantial clumps that can serve as dramatic focal points in landscape beds.
In an HOA neighborhood
Taro takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Very tropical appearance conflicts with traditional Southern landscapes
- Large leaves can look messy when damaged
- Not native and may be viewed as exotic or inappropriate
Wildlife value
This plant provides minimal wildlife value as it rarely flowers in cultivation and offers limited resources for native pollinators. The large leaves may provide shelter for small wildlife but do not support local ecosystem food webs.
Common questions
- How much sun does Taro need?
- Taro grows best in part sun conditions.
- Is Taro toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Taro is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Taro toxic to cats?
- Yes. Taro is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Taro HOA-friendly?
- Taro takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Taro and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.