Common names include Giant Taro and Elephant Ear Taro, while words for the plant in the various Polynesian languages include Kape (Niuean, Tongan), Ape (Cook Islands Māori, Tahitian, Hawaiian), "ta'amu" in Samoan language, and Pulaka (Tuvalu).
C. gigantea is close to Alocasia macrorrhizos and is thought to be produced from natural crossing between A. macrorrhizos and C.esculenta.