'Variegatum Monstrosum', knowns as mouse-cup taro, is ornamentally grown in St. Louis for its attractive elephant ear-like green leaves with unusual white variegation. Leaf tips will sometimes form a cup that holds water, at times with tails extending outward from the cup. In tropical climates, plants will grow to 5-7’ tall with leaves to 2’ long, but will more often grow to 2-3’ tall in one season in Midwestern gardens. From a distance, the variegation on each large leaf purportedly resembles the light and dark patterns found on the cartoon character Mickey Mouse. Flower is a greenish-white spathe enclosing a white spadix, however flowers are infrequently produced.
