The popularity of owning an Elephant Ear Plant or one of the Alocasia varieties is growing among gardeners. Due to the shape of its leaves, it is also known as Elephant Ear and is regarded as one of the finest tropical plants for decorating your house or apartment.
Its striking look also makes it ideal for office space, where its ambiance and lovely foliage will help brighten the environment.
Because there are so many kinds of Alocasia, it might be challenging to decide which one to use for an interior garden or just for decoration. So, in this article, a variety of Alocasia species and their characteristics have been listed below to assist you in choosing the best one for whatever purpose you desire.
21 Varieties of Alocasia
Alocasia Dragon scale
Formally known as Alocasia Baganda ‘dragon scale’, Alocasia dragon scale has a veined structure and stiff, flexible, silvery-green leaves that are deeper in the middle and lighter on the margins. With maturity, the plant’s coloring becomes more intense.
It favors humidity levels of 60-80%, temperatures of 55-80°F (13-27°C), and strong indirect sun or dappled shade.
The plant has an average sensitivity to pests and disease and requires relatively little fertilizer.
Alocasia Micholitziana Frydek
This variety of Alocasia Frydek is prized for its magnificently big arrow-shaped leaves with prominent white veins. It is also known as the Green Velvet Plant and grows more quickly in intense light. It may reach a height of 3 feet, with leaves that can stretch to a length of 18 inches (45 cm). Additionally, the leaf edges vigorously or slightly undulate.
Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’ requires a minimum temperature of 60°F (16°C).
Alocasia Baginda Silver Dragon
This variant of Alocasia also goes by the name Elephant Ear Silver Dragon and has thick leaves with a deep green venation and a tint ranging from silver to light green. At maturity, the leaf measures around 15 cm in length and 5 to 8 cm in breadth.
It can thrive at temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (12°C to 26°C) and requires abundant, indirect light and rich soil to reach a height of little above 1 meter. Furthermore, a humidity level of at least 60% is needed for healthy development.
Alocasia Wentii
The glossy, heart-shaped leaves of the Alocasia Wentii are green or purple in color. It is widespread throughout Australia and Asia but was first discovered in New Guinea. It may grow up to 6-8 feet tall, but when cultivated in pots or treated as a houseplant, it often only reaches heights of 3–4 feet.
This plant requires a minimum humidity of 60% humidity and an ideal temperature range of between 59°F and 86°F. Although its stem may be resistant, the plant itself is not frost-tolerant. Therefore, it cannot survive temperatures below 7°C.
Alocasia Macrorrhiza Variegata
This Alocasia type typically reaches a height of 12 to 15 feet and a spread of 4 to 6 feet. The leaves are up to 3 feet long and 3 feet wide, arrow-shaped to shield-like, simple, with slightly wavy edges and pronounced veins, and widely variegated in green, cream, and white.
It thrives in loamy soil that is rich, quick to drain, and mildly acidic to neutral. Additionally, it needs a temperature range of 18 to 27 °C (65 to 80 °F).
Alocasia Odora Variegata
A Variegated Alocasia Odora has long, broad, heart-shaped leaves. It also has white spots on its smooth, green surface, which vary across each leaf. The plant does best in mild summer weather and has a neutral pH. When fully grown, it can reach heights of 2 to 8 feet and a width of 3 to 4 feet.
Alocasia Black Velvet
Black Velvet differs from many other Alocasia plants because it has a spherical, nearly heart-shaped leaf. The leaf’s hue is a dark green that is almost black, and they also have a white vein.
It thrives best in loamy or sandy soil and needs temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees in addition to a humidity of between 45 and 70%. Most plant samples, when fully grown, are a little taller than 20 inches.
Alocasia Heterophylla Dragon’s Breath
Alocasia ‘Dragon’s Breath’ has leaves that are elongated, silver-hued, and corrugated in texture. It blooms in bright, indirect light and watering, and as it grows older, it can reach heights of up to 24 inches. Dragon’s Breath flourishes best in high humidity and temperatures above 60 degrees, or else it goes into dormancy.
Alocasia Cuprea Green & Red Secret
This strain is evergreen and perennial and stays fresh and all year long. It booms in extreme humidity and attains a maximum height of one foot when mature.
The leaves, which are big, oval, and metallic in appearance and range in color from dark green to red, are what make it famous for cultivation. The undersides of these leaves have a striking purple hue, mark.
Alocasia Azlanii
Alocasia Azlanii, often known as Red Mambo, has stunning leaves that are a metallic purple color with a pink undertone that highlights the veins. It originated in South Asian rainforests, and certain parts of Australia.
It stuns in bright, indirect light, like the majority of Alocasia. Also, it prefers greater humidity levels (at least 60%) and temperatures between 65 and 75 °F (18 and 24 °C). Additionally, it can grow as tall as 2 feet and has leaves no bigger than 8 inches.
Alocasia Melo
Melo is a species of Alocasia native to Sabah state in Malaysia. Unlike other varieties, it grows on ultramafic soils, that is, soil with low silica content.
It has thick-textured and greenish-blue leaves that are large-sized. The leaves range between 30-50 cm long and 25 cm wide. It also bears off-white colored leaves that appear in clusters of three.
In its natural habitat, it can reach a height of 23 inches. However, when grown indoors, it gets just to 15 inches long.
Alocasia Amazonica Bambino
The Alocasia Amazonica Bambino, which is native to Southeast Asia, has long, arrowhead-shaped leaves. The veins of the leaves are white, while its undersides are burgundy. Also, the leaves can spread to cover an area of 15 to 18 cm long and 5 cm wide.
Because it grows to a height of roughly 12 inches when planted indoors, Alocasia Amazonica ‘Bambino’ is often known as the dwarf cultivar of Alocasia.
It blooms best in temperatures ranging from 64 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, with a humidity of 70%.
Alocasia Zebrina
Alocasia zebrina is a gorgeous tropical evergreen perennial houseplant with stems that have zebra-like patterns and huge glossy green arrowhead leaves. This plant, also known as Alocasia zebrina Tiger or Alocasia Leopard, has long, spotted stalks that arch in odd patterns.
It may grow as tall as 2.9m(10ft) but typically only reaches 1.8 m. The leaves have a leathery feel and multiple cataphylls in addition to yielding orange-coloured fruits.
Alocasia Amazonica Polly
The Amazonica Polly is native to Southeast Asia, Southern China, and the Pacific Islands. It has lengthy solitary stems with big, arrowhead-shaped waxy leaves emerging from them. The underside of the leaves has a deep purple color with silver veining.
It can reach a height of one to two feet with a spread that is about the same size.
For optimal growth, it needs partial sun exposure and loamy soil that has a neutral or slightly acidic pH.
Alocasia Macrorrhizza Stingray
The name of this Alocasia arose from stingray dues to the extent to which its leaves mimic the aquatic mammal. The leaves of the Alocasia Macrorrhiza ‘Stingray’ houseplant point upward and outward, highlighting the surface’s ribbed, leathery, emerald green color.
In warm climates, it may grow up to 5 feet tall outside. However, this growth potential significantly reduces when it is grown indoors.
This plant thrives in a temperature range of 18 °C (64.4 °F) to 22 °C (71.6 °F) and soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, which is somewhat acidic.
Alocasia Chantrieri
This Alocasia hybrid is a very uncommon and exceptional cross between the severely endangered Alocasia Sanderiana and Alocasia Metallica. It has gorgeously dark and nearly black glossy leaves with strong veining and rich maroon undersides.
It is best grown under strong indirect sun exposure, as well as brief periods of partly direct sunlight, a chunky, well-draining soil mixture, moderate to high temperatures, and greater humidity. And like every other Alocasia plant, it should be grown out of the reach of pets as it is dangerous to them.
Alocasia Lauterbachiana Purple Sword
It also goes by the name Alocasia lauterbachiana and has stems and leaves that are both dark purple and sword-shaped. It stands on tall, purple to brown petioles with scalloped edges and crimson undersides.
Its leaves may reach a maximum length of 2 feet and a maximum width of 2 inches. The plant may grow as high as four feet in the wild but is limited to a height of 1 to 3 feet when grown indoors for decorative purposes.
One other property of this lineage of Alocasia is that it produces tiny green or purple blooms that resemble the conventional Anthurium structure and have a finger-like spadix that emerges from a clasping spathe.
Alocasia Longiloba
This plant’s arrowhead-shaped, alternating, stalked leaves measure up to 3 feet in length and one foot in width. Additionally, its leaves are dark green above and pale green or purple underneath with veins occasionally.
Longilobas possess stalks of chocolate brown color that are typically speckled. And its flowers sprout on a long stalk and contain a spathe that is green to white in color.
This plant may be found growing up to 2,000 meters above sea level in swamp woods, bamboo thickets, cliffs, limestone, regrowth, on exposed ridges and ravines, and on rivers. When fully matured, it can attain a height of 5 feet and a spread of 2 feet.
Alocasia Puncakborneensis
This species of Alocasia is native to Borneo. It is an Alocasia type that grows tall, reaching a height of around 6 feet, and has leaves that can be up to 2.5 feet long.
Its best yield is obtained when it is grown in uniformly wet soil that has good drainage and is slightly acidic with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5. Other growth requirements are bright and indirect light and glossy green foliage. The ideal temperature range is between 18 °C (64.4 °F) and 22 °C (71.6 °F), and it only grows well in high humidity.
Alocasia Reversa
Native to hills areas around Kuching in Malaysia, it derives its unique name from the fact that its color is deeper on and close to the veins than the usual Alocasia.
When the weather is warm, Alocasia Reversa grows quickly once its roots are set. Rapid new development is achieved by high humidity and well-drained loamy soil, while the ideal range for temperatures is between 60 and 85 Celsius.
They expand horizontally but seldom get taller than 19 inches when cultivated indoors.
Alocasia Sanderiana
Alocasia Sanderiana is also known as the kris plant because its leaf edges resemble the wavy blade of the Kalis sword (also known as kris or keris).
It has deep glossy dark green to blackish-green leaves that are erect with big white to yellowish veins and borders. The leaves are 12-16 in (30-40 cm) long and 6-8 in (15-20 cm) broad and are either single or few. Furthermore, it has an underside that is generally (but not always) crimson to purple and can only reach a maximum size of 2 feet (60 cm) in height.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Alocasia Cucullata, also commonly known as the Chinese taro, Chinese ape, Buddha’s hand, or hooded dwarf elephant ear is the rarest Alocasia. It is native to Southeast Asia but has now been introduced to many other regions including the Pacific and Central America.
The Amazonica ‘Polly’ is the simplest Alocasia to cultivate. It is also the most popular among the available varieties that are sold for home and office decorations.
The Alocasia macrorrhiza, sometimes known as the ‘giant taro,’ is the biggest. This plant can grow to be up to 8 feet broad and 15 feet tall.
Yes, Alocasia can be labeled as an indoor plant. You only need to give it the proper growing conditions for it to thrive; otherwise, its leaves will begin to wilt.