This is one of the cooler alocasias and the one I had the most difficult time finding. It can reach 2′ in height and will have a spread of a foot or two. It is really out of its range here in north Houston, only being rated to zone 9 for hardiness. Central and south Houston should have no trouble with this plant.
Plant in full to part shade. Some claim full sun kills it, others that it thrives in full sun. Mine’s in mostly shade. Tend to err on more water rather than less with this plant especially when we get our summer dry spell. It does not like to be dry. It is also prone to rotting if we have a cool/cold wet spell.
It does bloom occasionally, if its really happy and can send up pups. It should fill out rather quickly once it is settled in to your garden and form a dense clump.
It will die back once temperatures fall into the 40’s.
This is a finicky plant and a challenge for most of us unless you are lucky. But it is cool enough to be worth the trouble.
Keep an eye out for spider mites.
This plant is native to south east Asia.
This plant died a sudden death late June. I am not sure if it is the heat or lack of rain that did it in? I have it planted in a bog garden now, just in case it resurrects itself. I’d plant this in a planter and put the planter in a pond if I were to try it again.
2 responses so far ↓
1 elicata // May 15, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I’ve used these in containers and around the pond, treating them as annuals of course. They are sold as houseplants here (though I question how well they’d do inside all winter). VERY cool plant.
2 ljmacphee // May 21, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I’m told they do well indoors, though I strongly suspect you must keep the house pretty humid to keep them happy.
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