Flower profile
Taro
Colocasia esculenta
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a flowering plant in the Araceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly September–October across the U.S.
Taro is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Louisiana
Quick look
Taro is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, stems and petioles. Taro corms are a food staple in African, Caribbean, Oceanian, East Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian cultures.
- It belongs to the Araceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as not native to Louisiana. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 787 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #43 among the 154 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
There are only a handful of Louisiana flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- GU Unrankable worldwide. NatureServe
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Louisiana.
- Rare elsewhere
- No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing can result from eating parts of this plant. Causes an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and…” They also note: “Poisonous until cooked. Poisons neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water. Taro root used in Southeastern Asian cuisine. Use salted water and boil for at least one hour. They are rich in vitamins A and C and they have more protein, phosphorus and calcium than a regular potato. Their starch is easily digested so it is often used in infant formulas as a first baby food.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculenta)” (Colocasia esculenta) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records taro in 10 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas.
Louisiana counties with USDA records: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Claiborne, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Iberia, Jefferson, LaSalle, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Morehouse, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Rapides, Richland, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Union, Vermilion, Washington, West Feliciana.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Pacific Basin (excluding Hawaii): Introduced; Puerto Rico: Introduced.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 93 counties across 9 states; the most are in Louisiana (36), Florida (30), Puerto Rico (8).
More from the Araceae family (7 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Jack-in-the-pulpit, Eastern skunk cabbage, Western skunk cabbage, Green dragon, Golden pothos, Swiss cheese plant, Elephant ear.
More Louisiana flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile COES.
- iNaturalist, Colocasia esculenta: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Taro (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Colocasia esculenta (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋） via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.