Control Arrowleaf Elephant Ear

Many people ask how to get rid of elephant ear. The following options can be considered for how to control elephant ear.

Manual/Mechanical Control:

If you are considering how to remove elephant ear, physically digging up this plant and the bulb like structures can be an effective method of control. The leaves contain oxalic acid, which can be a skin irritant.

Herbicide Control:

There is an option for how to kill elephant ear that offers some control when used with repeated treatments in combination with other methods.

• Cattail and Water Lily Control (Imox + surfactant) (for ponds or lakes) – liquids that are mixed and diluted with water and sprayed over the plants.

Treatment Tips:

When treating elephant ear,

• With Imox or other systemic herbicides, treatment is most effective when the plants are mature or close to full grown. This allows for more plant surface to spray enough mixture on.
• Treat in late summer to early fall to get better kill of the root systems. At this time, plants are pulling energy into their roots to store for the winter.