I can't answer your question about elephant ears; I've never grown them. But I do know nothing will grow well in a container without drainage holes.

Thanks for answering. I'm not sure but I thought elephant ears were the same as taro and that they grow in water. That's why I wondered if it would be better to not drain them.

There are a couple different plants called elephant's ears, and one is a bog plant. But I think the water it needs to sit in must be fresh. In an urn without drainage holes it would quickly become stagnant. I found a long and interesting discussion of both kinds in the bog forum that you might like to read.

Here is a link that might be useful: How do I plant elephant's ear?

Kat

I think that elephant ear (at least one I grew few yrs. ago) may be too large for 8" opening. The leaves were over 2feet long. Really beautiful; I had it in large pot, diam. was 16".

I watered it generously daily, and it just grew. But pot did have drainage hole. At the end of the season I collected the corm; it actually had "baby corms", so I had more for the next season. I just stored them for the winter(like canna or dahlias).
They could grow quite tall, so that should be considered for your location.
I would not grow it in stagnant water, even if they tolerate boggy conditions. They prefer semi-shade/shade, will do well in dappled sunlight. I would not grow them in full sun.

Rina

Thanks Ohiofern and Rina! I have planted my EEs in a large pot with a wide opening and am keeping it wet. I can't wait to see what kind they are.

As for the urn, it is like the classic olive oil urn. I will try to find an ornamental grass for it.

Kat

Kat

maybe you can post photos when your EE grows...

The urns should be nice with just about anything. My daughter just planted hers with a Ghost fern, I really like it (it's greyish, and grows 'upright').
Green ferns look great too.
I like to combine plants with anything trailing - small-leaved ivy, creeping Jenny, wire vine (Muhlenbeckia), dichondra...
Ornamental grass is a good idea. Japanese forrest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is great looking in containers - you have countless choices.

Rina

I avoid the urn shape for most plants. EE will quickly fill the area with roots that you will not be able to get out of the urn without a lot of work cutting them all up into small pieces. I look for a tapered container that does not restrict later removal. Al

The urn -- complete with drainage holes -- now holds Solomon's seal, which I had on hand, and Virginia creeper, which is about to come out and be replaced with duckfoot coleus as soon as I can get some.

Thanks for the ideas Rina. I'll post photos of the EEs when they get a little bigger so someone can tell me what they are.

Al, I understand why you don't use the urn shape. To help, I left more inches than usual above the soil, so that the soil is only a little higher than the widest part. Then, at least I will be able to reach in to divide the plants, I hope.

kat

kat

hope to see photos, that should look nice (coleus is nice in pots/urns).
Rina