Remusatia pumila is a small Himalayan aroid grown for its attractive heart-shaped foliage and unusual spreading habit. Often called the Pygmy Elephant Ear, this tuberous plant produces delicate leaves and spreads using tiny bulbils that form along long stolons.

It works well in shady borders, woodland gardens, or containers where its unusual growth habit can be observed up close.

• Height: 15–30cm
• Spread: 30–60cm over time
• Tuber size: about 1–2.5cm
• Flower colour: pale yellow
• Position: shade to partial shade
• Soil: moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil

About Remusatia pumila

Remusatia pumila is a compact member of the Arum family. It grows from small tubers that send up elegant heart-shaped leaves on slender stems.

The plant spreads in an unusual way. It produces long stolons that carry tiny brown bulbils. These often attach to nearby surfaces or soil. Gardeners sometimes call them “hitchhiker” bulbils.

You can collect these bulbils and grow new plants with very little effort.

Common names include:

• Pygmy elephant ear
• Hitchhiker elephant ear

Benefits for UK Wildlife

Remusatia pumila is grown mainly for foliage, though it still contributes to a wildlife-friendly garden.

• Provides sheltered ground cover for insects in shady areas
• Helps create humid micro-habitats in woodland planting
• Pairs well with other shade plants that support pollinators

Use it as part of a layered shade garden with ferns and woodland flowers.

Where to Grow Pygmy Elephant Ear

• Shaded borders
• Woodland gardens
• Moist but well-drained raised beds
• Shaded patio containers
• Under trees and shrubs

Containers work well in cooler parts of the UK. You can move them to a sheltered spot in winter.

Planting Tips

• Plant tubers in spring once frost risk passes.
• Place tubers a few centimetres below the soil surface.
• Use humus-rich compost mixed with leaf mould.
• Keep soil lightly moist during the growing season.
• Provide shade or dappled light.
• Reduce watering when the plant enters dormancy.
• Keep tubers fairly dry during winter rest.

Collect the small bulbils that fall from the plant. Place them on moist compost and they will root quickly.

Why Grow Remusatia pumila

• Unusual elephant ear foliage in a compact plant
• Ideal for shaded gardens and woodland planting
• Produces many bulbils for easy propagation
• Works well in containers and small spaces
• Adds texture to shade planting schemes

If you enjoy unusual foliage plants, Remusatia pumila offers a distinctive addition to shady parts of your garden.