We are delighted to welcome, Coddenham resident Ian Jeffrey to The Coddenham Parish Website.

Art Historian and academic, Ian has volunteered his musings on gardening, for over 20 years. We are grateful for his generosity and the cooperation of the Ten Village News, in sharing his monthly observations with your community website.

He joins contributor, Brenda Hudson, who also shares her popular ‘Nature Notes’.

Don’t forget all comments and contributions, are welcome. Either complete the area at the foot of any article or email support@coddenham-parish.uk

Corm Comment

I bought some corms of Colocasia from Anglian Bulbs, and hoped for the best. Colocasia, also known as Elephants’ Ears seems to originate from S.E. Asia, where it forms part of the diet.

The massive leaves can be cooked and eaten, and the corms too can be sliced and stewed, according to exhaustive and footnoted essays on the internet. Given the cost, however, I would keep it as a decorative plant, noting that it is susceptible to frost later on in the year.

Grow it in large pots, completed with fertile soil, and stand the pots on broad garden saucers, to keep hold of some of the water you will have to apply. It is better to use plastic pots, which are easier to manhandle. In drought conditions Colocasia has to be topped up once a day. I would say. It is worth it, however, as a spectacle, for the leaves emerge discreetly from the main stem, looking like green cigars to begin with before unfolding and enlarging to result in huge heart-shaped foliage which moves modestly in any available breeze.

The plants can be disfigured by adhesive pigeon droppings, so it is worth keeping an eye open.  There are quite a lot of variants ranging from black, via glossy black to green with cream centres. They are not the most expensive offers, but getting on that way.

The virtue of expensive bulbs is that one takes better care of them – theoretically. Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia) are probably more dependable, and less costly. Their great virtue is that they are in flower for a long time, and they have a tidy format with white and yellow flowers.  They too need to be watered but not so prolifically as with Colocasia.

At the same time, I am confused, as a non-omniscient gardener, to find other Elephants’ Ears on offer sometimes called Bergenia, which might be miniature versions of the above. I tried to solve the problem on the internet, but to no avail. Bergenia, it turns out, owe their name to August von Bergen, a German botanist who first came across them.

In the mean time we should be consulting our Bloms catalogue for next season’s tulips. I see that no. 1 on the list is Acuminata, a species with long spidery petals inherited from early times and on offer at £66 or so for a dozen.

Ian Jeffrey 15.08. 2026