Knowing that a plant isn't suited for our Pacific NW winters often makes gardeners cross said plant off their list, but sometimes, it's just too beautiful to pass up, so we treat them as a summer annual. Such is Dark Star alocasia, aka Elephant Ears, so named for its large, emerald green leaves that can rise up to three feet tall on stiff black stems. Use this specimen in shade gardens to add a tropical flair and a dramatic backdrop for summer-flowering plants such as begonias or fuchsias. Once the leaves die down in the winter, the tubers of the alocasia may be dug up and stored indoors until the following spring.