Most elephant ear plants have lush green leaves with pronounced bright white or creamy white veins. Some varieties of elephant ears (Colocasia) have purple leaves, giving the tropical plants a dramatic appearance. The giant elephant ear leaves on some plant types have a shiny green upper side and reddish-purple underside.

Elephant ear plants offer some of the boldest foliage you could ever want in a garden. Huge, heart-shaped leaves come in black, purple, emerald green, chartreuse, yellow, or a mix of colors.

Elephant ear leaves can reach lengths of 3 feet on top of 3- to 7-foot stems. The leaves usually have prominent veins, and their colors range from lime green to almost black.