Elephant Ear pruning

Question

We have a VERY large and tall elephant ear plant that is almost like a tree (with a trunk — no pun intended:-) The plant is outdoors and in the ground. We live in South Texas and have had an unusual hard freeze which, not surprisingly, took the leaves. The wet, heavy leaves caused the “trunk” to be almost horizontal. We have removed the dead leaves and propped up the “trunk” for the short term, but I am wondering if we can shorten the trunk? If we saw off part of the trunk, will it kill the plant, or will it come back from the shortened trunk? If it is ok to shorten the trunk, how much of it can we remove?

Thanks!
Donna.

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Answer 1

Elephant ear plants can be pruned back to the ground, and they will grow back from the tuber. You can cut the trunk back as much as you wish. Since it's winter now and the plant has already frozen, this treatment won't hurt the plant.