Alocasia cucullata (Elephant Ear)
- Regular price
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€26,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€26,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the leaves of an Alocasia turning yellow? It is almost always related to overwatering — let the soil dry out more between waterings and check that the decorative pot does not hold stagnant water under the pot.
Can Alocasia cucullata grow in a low-light room? Yes, that is one of its main qualities — it tolerates partial shade better than most other Alocasias and keeps its shiny foliage even in less sunny spaces.
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.
🌿 Large shiny green heart-shaped leaves • ☀️ Bright indirect light • 💧 Moderate watering • 🚀 Vigorous growth • 🏙️ 2 sizes available
The Alocasia cucullata, also called elephant ear, is a robust tropical plant native to the humid forests of Southeast Asia. Its large shiny green heart-shaped leaves borne on long sturdy petioles create a lush, architectural silhouette that brings volume and tropical freshness to contemporary interiors.
The cucullata variety is the most tolerant and robust of the family — it better forgives watering lapses and light variations than other Alocasias, making it the best entry point into the Alocasia collection.
Which Alocasia variety to choose?
The Alocasia genus offers a great diversity of shapes and colors — here are the most distinctive profiles in the catalog:
- Alocasia cucullata (this plant) — large shiny green heart-shaped leaves, smooth and slightly wavy, generous habit. The most robust and tolerant of care mistakes.
- Alocasia Polly (Amazonica) — dark green foliage with very graphic silver-white veins, compact habit. The choice for strong color contrast in a small space.
- Alocasia Zebrina — spectacular yellow and green striped stems, dark green foliage. The choice for stems as decorative as the foliage.
- Alocasia Red Secret — burgundy red foliage shifting to copper green depending on light. The choice for a warm and spectacular palette.
- Alocasia Lauterbachiana — long, narrow wavy leaves on upright stems, very airy habit. The choice for a slimmer, more slender silhouette.
- Alocasia Macrorrhiza — huge shiny green leaves, very imposing stature. The choice for an XXL statement plant in a large, very bright space.
- Alocasia Regal Shield — very large dark green shield-shaped leaves with deep purple reverse. The choice for majestic two-tone foliage.
- Alocasia Wentii — bronze green foliage with purple underside, pronounced veins. The choice for a softer two-tone palette.
Exhibition & location
The Alocasia cucullata enjoys bright indirect light — this is the condition to maintain dense foliage and a vibrant shiny green. Its tolerance for variable conditions makes it one of the Alocasias best suited for intense city living.
- Light: bright indirect to partial shade — protected from direct sun that burns leaves and dulls their shine.
- Locations: living room, office, bedroom — anywhere with stable, diffuse light.
- Temperature: 18 to 27 °C, without sudden changes or drafts.
The Alocasia cucullata is the most shade-tolerant variety in the family — where other Alocasias quickly lose their shine, the cucullata keeps its glossy foliage even in less ideal conditions.
Watering & care
The Alocasia cucullata prefers a slightly moist substrate that never stays soggy — let the top 2 to 3 centimeters dry out before watering. Excess water is its main threat, as with most large tropical indoor plants.
- Frequency: about once a week in spring-summer, every two weeks in winter.
- Drainage: essential — a pot with drainage holes and well-draining substrate, never stagnant water in the decorative pot.
- Humidity: occasionally mist the foliage to maintain a tropical atmosphere.
- Fertilizer: a liquid fertilizer for green plants diluted once a month in spring and summer.
- Cleaning: wipe the leaves with a soft damp cloth to preserve their shiny glow.
If the leaves yellow at the base, it is almost always due to overwatering — let the substrate dry out more between waterings before adjusting light exposure or fertilization.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The generous silhouette and shiny foliage of the Alocasia cucullata make it an ideal structural plant — its large heart-shaped leaves add volume and height to mixed tropical arrangements without weighing down the overall look.
- For a tropical arrangement at different heights, pair the Alocasia cucullata with a Monstera deliciosa and a Philodendron campii — the shiny heart-shaped leaves of the Alocasia in the foreground, the cut leaves of the Monstera in the middle, and the large leaves of the Philodendron in the background create three very complementary textures within the same palette of tropical greens.
- For a highly contrasting elephant ear duo, pair it with an Alocasia Zebrina — the Zebrina’s striking striped stems contrast with the simple petioles and shiny leaves of the cucullata for a very graphic duo within the same family.
- In a matte white or light gray ceramic decorative pot, the neutral, fresh tones naturally complement the intense shine of the green foliage — choose a matte ceramic decorative pot without pattern so the large leaves are the only decorative accent.
- For a very large arrangement, place the XXL Alocasia cucullata (H80 cm) in front of a Strelitzia nicolai — the broad, heart-shaped leaves of the Alocasia in the foreground and the upright fronds of the Strelitzia in the background create two very distinct tropical layers.
Verdeia tips
- Let the top 2 to 3 centimeters of substrate dry between waterings: Alocasia cucullata is much more tolerant of drought than overwatering — a constantly soggy substrate causes silent root rot that leaves only signal late yellowing.
- Turn the plant a quarter turn every two weeks: Alocasia naturally orients its large leaves toward the light — regular rotation ensures a balanced shape and prevents the plant from stretching toward the window on one side.
- Repot every 2 years in spring in a light, well-draining substrate: Alocasia cucullata develops a robust root system — wait until roots come out of the bottom of the pot and follow the steps in the indoor plant repotting guide to avoid stressing the plant.
Technical characteristics
- Botanical name: Alocasia cucullata
- Common name: Elephant ear, Alocasia Cucullata
- Family: Araceae
- Origin: Tropical forests of Southeast Asia
- Dimensions at delivery: 🏙️ 2 sizes available — H55 cm | Pot Ø19 cm or H80 cm | Pot Ø21 cm
- Exposure: Bright indirect light to partial shade
- Watering: Moderate, let 2-3 cm of the surface dry between waterings
- Temperature: 18 – 27 °C
- Care: Very easy
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets and children (calcium oxalate crystals)
- Decorative style: Tropical / Lush / Architectural
Each plant is unique: the photos show a representative example. Leaf size and foliage density naturally vary depending on light and season.
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.