This plant is entirely too cool. I’ve been lusting after one for a long time and found one at the Jerry’s Jungle plant sale.
The correct botanical name is Alocasia micholitziana, but it is often labeled as Alocasia Frydek. This is a rain forest plant so find a good boggy spot to plant it in, it needs lots of water to do well. But it will rot if left in standing water. So you want wet but not standing water in the spot you plant it.
It is a tropical plant going dormant when temperatures dip below 55′F and it MUST be protected from frost! If there are no freezes it will come back in the spring. Dig the bulb up and bring it indoors if the weather is going to get into the 30s. Store it in a cool, dark location then replant it in the spring. ( I’m told they winter over in the ground just fine in Houston. )
I did not protect my plant and it died back to the ground for the winter. Late March it started to re-appear.
You must also protect this plant from the wind. So find a safe nook or spot along a fence to plant it.
If you can keep this plant happy it can reach 2′ to 4′ in height with a 5′ spread. It likes shade so plant it under something or some where it will be some protection from the sun.
This plant is native to the Philippines not Africa where they are an important food crop. The starch from these plants is combined with coconut milk in several dishes. Take care because improper cooking can result in illness. If you wish to try cooking, do a bit more research first.
See also:
Black Leaf Elephant Ear
5 responses so far ↓
1 smhead // Dec 10, 2007 at 8:06 am
Wow that’s a beauty! I’ve not seen such strong patterns on Elephant Ears. We’ve only got the commonly seen large, solid green ones (no strong vein contrast like the ones in your pic), and I don’t know much about any others. I do know that the leaves of the large green variety will kill a dog if he eats it, and is poisonous to humans, youngsters especially, if ingested. I don’t know about the bulbs though. Perhaps other varieties are less dangerous?
That’s an outstanding plant!
2 admin // Dec 10, 2007 at 8:28 am
Thanks. I am not sure if this one is toxic as well? My guess would be yes.
I’m hoping this one will spread so I can add a bunch to a few other sections of the yard.
So far it hasn’t minded the cooler weather. The newest leaves are smaller than the ones it put out earlier. I expect it will produce larger leaves again once the weather warms up.
3 juliesize // Dec 10, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I love the veins in the leaves..but for me - it is just too difficult to keep them from freezing since I am about 60 miles north of Houston. Anytime Houston is at 40 degrees - we are in danger of a frost…
4 admin // Dec 11, 2007 at 3:31 pm
It will be interesting to see how well it handles the cooler weather.
I was just reading an article early this week that the tropics are expanding 1′-4′. I ‘ve an entry coming on that in Jan. So perhaps before too much time goes by you won’t be getting as many frosts?
5 admin // Jan 7, 2008 at 1:57 pm
This plant did well till we hit about 27′F.
It should come back just fine when the weather warms provided it isn’t too wet for the bulb over the winter.
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