Native Plants

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Friday - March 27, 2015

From: Port Charlotte, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identification of ivy-like plant with large purplish leaves.
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Can you ID this ivy-like growing plant with a big purplish elephant ear type leaf and a big green stem pouch?

ANSWER:

This doesn't sound like any North American native (our focus and area of expertise) that I can think of, but I will see what I can find. Here is one suggestion:

Colocasia esculenta ('Black Leaf' Taro) is native to Southeastern Asia. Here is a photo and information from Floridata. This isn't, however, a vine.

You can also look through the photos of plants with purple leaves on GardenPhotos.com.