🌿 Species guide
🐘 Alocasia
🐘 In brief
To start with: Alocasia Polly, Cucullata — compact and more tolerant · For XXL impact: Macrorrhiza, Zebrina, Regal Shield · To collect: Dragon Scale, Silver Dragon, Red Secret · Key rule: high humidity + bright indirect light + never drafts · all toxic to pets
Alocasia — nicknamed "elephant ear" for its large characteristic leaves — is one of the most spectacular tropical plants. Striped stems, ivory-veined leaves, silver or metallic burgundy foliage: each variety is a botanical masterpiece. This guide covers all varieties and all the keys to care for them well.
Large and architectural Alocasia
These varieties are made for large spaces — living room, entrance, open office. Their imposing size and spectacular foliage make them centerpiece decorations.
The Zebrina is one of the most recognizable — its long white and green striped stems like a zebra are as decorative as its large shiny green arrow-shaped leaves. This stem/leaf contrast is unique in the family. Slender stature, immediate architectural effect in a living room or entrance.
See the Zebrina →
The Macrorrhiza is the giant of the family — under optimal conditions, its leaves can reach 60 cm long indoors. Its large bright green oval leaves with very pronounced white veins create an immediate lush tropical effect. Reserved for large bright spaces.
See the Macrorrhiza →
The Regal Shield is the most imposing Alocasia in the catalog — its large dark green leaves with very contrasting ivory veins and a violet-burgundy underside create a spectacular two-tone foliage. Its majestic stature fully justifies its name. An exceptional plant for large bright rooms.
See the Regal Shield →
The Lauterbachiana stands out with its very elongated leaves with wavy edges — a very different shape from broad-leaf Alocasia. The underside of the leaves is intense violet-burgundy. It brings a more airy and less massive silhouette than the Macrorrhiza or the Regal Shield.
See the Lauterbachiana →
The Wentii is more tolerant of changing conditions than most Alocasia — a rare quality in the family. Its large bronze-green leaves with a deep violet underside create a beautiful two-tone effect. It adapts better to less humid interiors than more demanding varieties.
See the Wentii →The compact Alocasia
For small spaces or beginners, these varieties offer all the charm of Alocasia in a more accessible format — and generally more tolerant.
The Polly is the best-selling and most accessible Alocasia for beginners. Its dark green leaves with very contrasting ivory white veins are immediately recognizable. Compact size (30–50 cm), it adapts to apartments and tolerates humidity variations better than larger varieties.
See the Polly →
The Cucullata is the most robust of the family — it tolerates partial shade and humidity variations better than other Alocasia. Its bright green, shiny, round heart-shaped leaves are very different from the arrow-shaped leaves of other varieties. Nicknamed "Buddha plant" in Southeast Asia, it carries symbolism of luck and prosperity.
See the Cucullata →The collector Alocasia
These varieties are sought after by rare plant enthusiasts for their extraordinary foliage — textures, colors, and patterns found nowhere else in the plant world.
The Dragon Scale is one of the most fascinating Alocasia — its silver-green leaves have a three-dimensional texture that exactly reproduces dragon scales. Each leaf is an object of contemplation. More demanding in humidity than classic varieties, but the visual result is unmatched.
See the Dragon Scale →
The Silver Dragon is the silver variety of Dragon Scale — its leaves have the same scale relief but in a very bright silver-gray shade, with dark green veins creating a striking contrast. Probably the most photographed Alocasia in rare plant collections.
See the Silver Dragon →
The Red Secret is unique in the Alocasia family — its leaves have a metallic copper-bordeaux hue that seems almost unreal. The effect changes depending on the lighting angle, shifting from deep bordeaux to bright copper. A true living decorative object for collectors.
See the Red Secret →This guide presents a selection of the most distinctive varieties. The complete Alocasia collection includes other varieties — including Jacklyn, Nebula Silver Compacta, Bambino Arrow, and Gageana California.
Quick comparison
| Variety | Adult size | Difficulty | Feature | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polly | 30–50 cm | ⭐ The easiest | Contrasting white veins | Beginners, small spaces |
| Cucullata | 40–60 cm | ⭐ Robust | Round leaves, tolerates partial shade | Beginners, partial shade |
| Zebrina | 70–90 cm | ⭐⭐ Moderate | Spectacular striped stems | Living room, entrance |
| Macrorrhiza | 70–100 cm+ | ⭐⭐ Moderate | Very large XXL leaves | Bright large spaces |
| Regal Shield | 80–100 cm | ⭐⭐ Moderate | Bicolor green/purple leaves | Living room centerpiece |
| Lauterbachiana | 70–90 cm | ⭐⭐ Moderate | Elongated wavy leaves | Airy and original style |
| Wentii | 75–90 cm | ⭐ More tolerant | Bronze/purple, more resilient | Less humid interiors |
| Dragon Scale | 25–40 cm | ⭐⭐⭐ Demanding | Three-dimensional scale texture | Collection, passion |
| Silver Dragon | 20–35 cm | ⭐⭐⭐ Demanding | Unique silver foliage | Collection, passion |
| Red Secret | 30–45 cm | ⭐⭐⭐ Demanding | Metallic copper-bordeaux | Collection, passion |
General care
Light
Alocasia needs bright indirect light — this is its main requirement. In its natural environment, it grows in tropical undergrowth with intense filtered light. Indoors: east or south window with sheer curtain, or west window. Avoid direct sun that burns the leaves. The Cucullata is the most tolerant of partial shade. See our light and humidity guide.
Watering
Water when the top 2–3 cm of substrate is dry. In summer: about once a week. In winter (semi-dormancy): once every 2 to 3 weeks — drastically reducing is essential. Use the finger test. Filtered or rain water recommended — Alocasia is sensitive to lime. See the complete watering guide.
Humidity
Alocasia needs ambient humidity of 60 to 70%. Solutions: ultrasonic humidifier (most effective), misting morning and evening, tray of wet clay balls. In dry or air-conditioned apartments, a humidifier is not optional for demanding varieties. Same approach as for Calathea.
Temperature and drafts
Alocasia is very sensitive to cold drafts and temperature fluctuations. Maintain a stable temperature between 18 and 28 °C. Below 15 °C, the plant enters dormancy and may lose all its leaves — this is not fatal, it will regrow in spring from the rhizomes.
Substrate and repotting
Well-draining and airy substrate: mix potting soil + perlite (30%) + a bit of coconut fiber. Repot in spring into a pot 2–3 cm larger when roots overflow. Detailed guide: complete repotting guide.
- Bright indirect light — no direct sun, no darkness
- Humidity 60–70% — humidifier strongly recommended
- Filtered or rain water — sensitive to lime
- Drastically reduce watering in winter
- No drafts, stable temperature above 15 °C
- Fertilize once every 15 days from March to September with a diluted fertilizer
⚠️ Winter semi-dormancy — don’t panic
In winter, Alocasia can lose most or all of its leaves and appear dead. This is natural behavior — the plant rests and conserves energy in its rhizomes. Reduce watering to a minimum, keep the temperature above 15 °C, and wait for spring. New leaves will grow as soon as conditions improve.
Common problems and solutions
| Symptom | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Falling leaves | Normal (natural rotation) or stress | If 1–2 leaves: normal. If several at once: check humidity, watering, drafts |
| Yellow leaves | Overwatering or aging | Reduce watering, check drainage. See yellow leaves: 5 causes |
| Brown leaf edges | Air too dry or hard water | Increase humidity, switch to filtered water |
| Brown spots in the middle | Direct sun or cold water on leaves | Keep away from direct sun, water without wetting the foliage |
| Loss of all leaves in winter | Winter semi-dormancy — normal | Reduce watering, keep above 15 °C, wait until spring |
| Red spider mites | Very dry air | Drastically increase humidity, treat with neem oil. See the diagnostic guide |
| Water droplets on the leaves | Guttation — normal | No action needed. Alocasia expels excess water through its leaves in the morning — a sign of good health |
Verdeia Collection
All Alocasia varieties
From compact Polly to the imposing Regal Shield for large living rooms — 15 varieties available.
Frequently asked questions
The loss of one or two leaves is normal — Alocasia naturally rotates its foliage. If several leaves fall at the same time: check the ambient humidity, watering (too much or too little), drafts, and temperature. In winter, a total loss of foliage is possible and normal — the plant enters semi-dormancy and regrows in spring. Consult the diagnostic guide if the situation persists.
The Alocasia Polly is the most accessible — compact, more tolerant of humidity variations, and widely available. The Cucullata is even more robust and tolerates partial shade better. Avoid Dragon Scale, Silver Dragon, and Red Secret as first choices — they are very demanding in humidity.
Moderate to demanding care depending on the variety. Its three main requirements are clear: high humidity (60–70%), bright indirect light, stable temperature without drafts. Once these conditions are met, it is relatively stable. The main challenge is humidity — an ultrasonic humidifier makes things much easier.
Yes — all Alocasia varieties are toxic to cats and dogs. Calcium oxalate crystals can cause mouth irritation and digestive issues. Keep out of reach. For a pet-friendly home, check our selection of pet-friendly plants — Calathea offers similar tropical foliage and is non-toxic.
This is guttation — a natural phenomenon where the Alocasia expels excess water absorbed through its leaves. It’s a sign of a healthy plant. If droplets are present in large amounts after recent watering, it might indicate slightly excessive watering — check the substrate with the finger test.
Verdeia shop
Find your ideal Alocasia
From compact Polly to start with to Silver Dragon for collecting — each plant comes with its complete care sheet.
