Tannia is a tropical aroid from the American tropics that brings lush, dramatic foliage to warm gardens and containers. Xanthosoma sagittifolium is prized not just for its ornamental arrow-shaped leaves, but for its edible tuberous rhizomes that cook up like potatoes, plus tender young leaves that rival spinach in nutrition and flavor. Winter hardy only to USDA Zones 8-10, it grows 2 to 4 feet tall and wide in part shade, thriving in consistently moist, rich soil. In cooler regions, tannia is easily overwintered indoors or replanted fresh each spring, making it accessible even to gardeners outside the tropics.
Partial Shade
Moderate
8-10
48in H x 48in W
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Moderate
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Tannia earns its place in gardens for three reasons at once: stunning arrow-shaped foliage that grows 2 to 4 feet in height and spread, edible rhizomes with a potato-like texture when cooked, and tender young leaves you can harvest like spinach. This tropical plant craves heat and humidity, flourishing in part shade where other crops struggle. Plant it in spring after frost danger passes, and it rewards consistent moisture with vigorous growth through summer.
The tuberous rhizomes are the primary harvest, cooked and eaten much like potatoes for their starchy nutrition and mild flavor. The young leaves can be harvested and prepared like spinach, offering a tender green vegetable. Tender shoots are also edible and can be cooked similarly to asparagus. Beyond food, the dramatic arrow-shaped foliage makes tannia an ornamental specimen in tropical and warm-temperate gardens.
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Plant tuberous rhizomes in spring after the last frost has passed, when soil has warmed. Choose a location in part shade to full shade with rich, deep soil that retains moisture but drains well. Space plants 24 to 48 inches apart to allow for their mature spread.
Harvest tuberous rhizomes in fall after foliage begins to decline, typically 7 to 10 months after planting. Dig carefully to avoid damaging the rhizomes. Young leaves can be harvested continuously during the growing season by removing tender new growth from the top of the plant, similar to harvesting spinach. Tender shoots may also be harvested as they emerge.
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“Although tannia's precise native range in tropical America remains unclear, it has become widely established across the American tropics both as a food staple and ornamental plant. Indigenous and traditional growers in tropical regions have cultivated Xanthosoma sagittifolium for generations, valuing it as a reliable, productive crop that provides multiple edible parts from a single planting. Its journey from regional staple to gardens beyond the tropics reflects how gardeners continually seek reliable tropical crops that can be grown seasonally or indoors in cooler climates.”