Alocasia Dragon Scale (Elephant Ear)
- Regular price
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€15,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€15,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Alocasia Dragon Scale lose its leaves in winter? It’s a natural cycle — the Alocasia enters semi-dormancy in winter and may lose one or more leaves before growing again in spring; reduce watering and wait without worry.
How do I care for the silver veins of the Alocasia Dragon Scale? Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth and maintain high ambient humidity — dust and dry air gradually dull the contrast of the silver veins.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌿 Thick dark green foliage with pronounced silver veins • 🎨 Embossed scale effect texture • ☀️ Bright indirect light • 💧 Moderate watering • 🏙️ 2 sizes available
The Alocasia Dragon Scale is a collector’s plant native to the tropical forests of Borneo — its thick dark green leaves feature a network of very pronounced silver veins that create a raised reticulated pattern resembling dragon scales. Its embossed and leathery texture is unique in the Alocasia genus and gives it superior resistance compared to most species.
It belongs to the Alocasia collection, one of the most spectacular families of our collector plants — a genus whose dozens of varieties with radically different shapes and textures allow you to build an entire collection within the same family.
Which Alocasia variety to choose?
The Alocasia genus offers very different leaf shapes and textures. Here is how the Dragon Scale fits within the range:
- Alocasia Dragon Scale (this plant) — thick dark green leaves, very pronounced silver veins, embossed texture resembling scales. The most textured and graphic.
- Alocasia Silver Dragon — metallic silver leaves with dark green veins, same embossed texture as the Dragon Scale but in a lighter tone. The mirror and brighter version.
- Alocasia Jacklyn — deeply lobed leaves with dramatic cutouts, slender habit. The most graphic with cut shapes.
- Alocasia Nebula Silver Compacta — rounded green-gray leaves with white veins, compact habit. The most understated and compact.
- Alocasia Red Secret — bronze green leaves with coppery red highlights, very rare. The most colorful and metallic.
- Alocasia Zebrina — arrow-shaped leaves on long striped green and white petioles, very slender habit. The most architectural and airy.
- Alocasia Polly — dark glossy arrow-shaped leaves with contrasting white veins, compact robust habit. The most classic and easiest.
Pair the Dragon Scale with the Silver Dragon for a sister plant duo — same family, same embossed texture, but one in dark positive and the other in silver negative, a striking contrast.
Exposure & placement
The Alocasia Dragon Scale enjoys bright indirect light — good brightness enhances the contrast between the dark green leaves and the silver veins, making the scale texture even more striking. In partial shade, the contrast gradually fades and new leaves lose depth.
- Ideal exposure: bright indirect light — east or west window, well-lit desk, bright shelf.
- Avoid: direct sunlight that burns the leaves, prolonged partial shade that dulls the silver veins.
- Temperature: 18–27 °C, without sudden changes or drafts.
- Soil: light, airy, and well-drained — universal potting mix with perlite.
Placed at eye level on a bright shelf, the embossed texture fully reveals itself — the raised scale effect is most impressive when viewed up close.
Watering & care
The Alocasia Dragon Scale prefers slightly moist but never soggy soil — its roots are sensitive to waterlogging. Yellowing leaves almost always indicate overwatering or low ambient humidity, rarely a lack of water.
- Watering: moderate — let the top 2 to 3 cm of soil dry out between waterings.
- Frequency: about once a week in spring-summer; every 2 weeks in winter.
- Humidity: 60 to 70% — mist regularly or place on a tray of moist clay pebbles.
- Drainage: essential — pot must have drainage holes, empty saucer after watering.
- Fertilizer: diluted liquid fertilizer for green plants, once a month in spring and summer.
Gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth — the embossed texture traps dust in its reliefs and buildup dulls the silver veins that give the plant its character.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The embossed texture and raised silver veins of the Alocasia Dragon Scale make it a strong visual accent plant — placed at eye level, it draws the gaze and invites close observation. To create arrangements around it, check out our ideas for creating a tropical atmosphere.
- In the Alocasia collection: pair it with the Alocasia Silver Dragon and the Alocasia Jacklyn — three very distinct shapes and textures in the same family, a coherent and spectacular collection to display on the same shelf.
- In a duo of contrasting textures: pair it with the Philodendron Melanochrysum — silver embossed leaves of the Dragon Scale against the dark green velvet of the Melanochrysum, two collector plants with opposite but complementary textures.
- On a bright shelf: the H25 cm | Pot Ø14 cm size is ideal for a shelf arrangement — slip it into a white ceramic decorative pot with relief whose textured surface interacts with the embossed patterns of the leaves.
- Decorative pot and colorimetry: the dark green and silver veins stand out particularly well against a Brussels anthracite decorative pot — the dark background amplifies the intensity of the foliage and highlights the graphic effect of the veins.
Verdeia tips
- Maintain high ambient humidity: Alocasia Dragon Scale needs a humid atmosphere to reveal the depth of its silver veins — a tray of moist clay pebbles under the pot is the simplest solution, with no risk of overwatering.
- Respect the dormancy period: in winter, Alocasia may lose one or more leaves and slow down considerably — this is a natural cycle, reduce watering and wait for the return of warmer days without panic.
- Avoid drafts: Alocasia is particularly sensitive to sudden temperature changes — choose a stable location away from open windows in winter and air conditioners.
The Alocasia Dragon Scale is a slow-growing plant — each new leaf is an event, often larger and with more pronounced veins than the previous one if conditions are optimal.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'
- Common name: Alocasia Dragon Scale, Elephant Ear
- Family: Araceae
- Origin: Borneo (Southeast Asia)
- Available sizes: H25 cm | Pot Ø14 cm / H30 cm | Pot Ø14 cm
- Adult size: up to 40–60 cm indoors
- Exposure: bright indirect light
- Substrate: light, airy, and draining — universal potting soil with perlite
- Watering: moderate — let the top 2–3 cm dry out between waterings
- Care: moderate
- Growth: slow
- Toxicity: toxic if ingested (calcium oxalate crystals)
- Decorative style: Collection / Textured / Sophisticated
- Feature: thick dark green leaves with very pronounced silver veins, unique embossed texture in relief reminiscent of dragon scales
Each plant is unique: the photos show a representative example. The intensity of the silver veins and the depth of the embossed texture naturally vary depending on the light and the plant's age.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.