PUSHING THE BORDERS

I've grown Colocasia gaoligongensis for a few years and it has proven to be reliably hard without protection in the ground. No sign of new growth above ground yet but I've investigated below ground and they are still alive. I didn't think it would be possible to find another Colocasia to match this one but I've found the one called 'Pink China' to be even better. Here it is producing some new shoots

I kept a small offshoot in a pot inside over the winter in case it didn't return and unlike C. gaoligongensis it just keeps on growing if kept frost free

It also doesn't appear to be prone to pests when overwintered inside, even the RSM prefer other tastier morsels. Does anyone know what it's origins are or if it now has a 'proper' name?

My 'Pink China' retained its leaves for most of the winter, only for them to be trashed by the bitter weather in March. That said, an 'ordinary' esculenta I call 'Focus Cannonball' (bought from Focus in 2007 - tubers the size of cannonballs), regularly holds most of its leaves. Even during the winter of 2009/10 it was only frozen to just above ground level and quickly resumed growth the following spring. I find gaolingongensis to be a truly deciduous species, quickly going to ground with the onset of cold weather and shorter days. I'm not sure whether it is hardier than 'Pink China', but the later seems to be one of the first to resume growth in spring followed (this year) by gaolingongensis and then 'Focus Cannonball'.

I bought a 'Pink China' last September and for one reason or another I left the pot outside all winter, I did consider taking it in a few times but decided to leave it to test its hardiness.
During March had snow on the ground that lasted for a good couple of weeks, temperatures didn't dip below -5 over that time but the pot would have been frozen solid.
The main tuber has rotted, which I wasn't at all surprised about as quite a bit of it was sitting proud of the soil surface but there were many runners within the pot, all of which look alive and well. I potted them up at the weekend and they're currently sitting somewhere warm.
I'm expecting good things from this one over the summer. It's good to see from Andy's experience that it appears to be one that will wake up nice and early as hardiness isn't normally the issue for me but slow growth in spring is the stumbling block. :)

I only have Colocasia gaoligongensis ( thanks Andy ) and that has been very tough. It has just started to push up new shoots and I can see a new leaf forming.

I will have to get 'Pink china' now ;)