Alocasia Dragon Scale (Elephant Ear)
- Regular price
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€27,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€27,95
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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
Alocasia Dragon Scale is a collector plant native to the tropical forests of Borneo — its thick dark green leaves feature a network of highly pronounced silver veins that creates a raised reticulated pattern reminiscent of dragon scales. Its embossed, leathery texture is unique within the Alocasia genus and gives it greater resilience than 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 make it possible to build an entire collection within the same family.
Which Alocasia variety should you choose?
The Alocasia genus offers very different leaf shapes and textures. Here is how Dragon Scale compares within the range:
- Alocasia Dragon Scale (this plant) — thick dark green leaves, highly pronounced silver veins, raised embossed texture reminiscent of scales. The most textured and graphic.
- Alocasia Silver Dragon — metallic silver leaves with dark green veins, the same embossed texture as Dragon Scale but in a lighter palette. The mirrored and brighter version.
- Alocasia Jacklyn — deeply lobed leaves with spectacular cutouts, slender growth. The most graphic in its deeply divided form.
- Alocasia Nebula Silver Compacta — rounded gray-green leaves with white veins, compact growth. 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 borne on long petioles striped green and white, with a very slender growth habit. The most architectural and airy.
- Alocasia Polly - glossy dark green arrow-shaped leaves with contrasting white veins and a compact, sturdy growth habit. The most classic and easiest.
Pair Dragon Scale with Silver Dragon for a duo of sister plants - the same family and embossed texture, but one a dark positive version and the other a silver negative version, creating a striking contrast.
Light & placement
Alocasia Dragon Scale thrives in bright indirect light - good brightness intensifies the contrast between the dark green leaves and silver veins, making the scale-like texture even more striking. In partial shade, the contrast gradually fades and new leaves lose some of their depth.
- Ideal exposure: bright indirect light - an east- or west-facing window, a well-lit desk or a bright shelf.
- To avoid: direct sun, which burns the leaves, and prolonged partial shade, which dulls the silver veins.
- Temperature: 18–27 °C, without sudden changes or drafts.
- Substrate: light, airy and well-drained - universal potting soil with perlite.
Placed at eye level on a bright shelf, the embossed texture is fully revealed - it is when viewed up close that the raised scale effect is most impressive.
Watering & care
Alocasia Dragon Scale prefers slightly moist substrate but never waterlogged - its roots are sensitive to stagnant water. Yellowing leaves almost always indicate overwatering or insufficient ambient humidity, rarely a lack of water.
- Watering: moderate - let the top 2 to 3 cm of substrate dry out between waterings.
- Frequency: about once a week in spring and summer; every 2 weeks in winter.
- Humidity: 60 to 70% — mist regularly or place on a tray of damp clay pebbles.
- Drainage: essential — a pot with drainage holes is mandatory; empty the 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 ridges, and buildup dulls the silver veins that give the plant its distinctive character.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The embossed texture and raised silver veins of Alocasia Dragon Scale make it a striking visual accent plant — placed at eye level, it draws the eye and invites close observation of the details. An ideal foundation for a tropical atmosphere.
- In an Alocasia collection: pair it with Alocasia Silver Dragon and Alocasia Jacklyn — three very distinct shapes and textures from the same family, a cohesive and spectacular collection to display on the same shelf.
- As a duo of contrasting textures: pair it with the Philodendron Melanochrysum — the Dragon Scale's embossed silver leaves against the Melanochrysum's dark green velvet, two collector's plants with contrasting yet complementary textures.
- On a bright shelf: the H25 cm | Pot Ø14 cm format is ideal for a shelf arrangement — place it in a white ceramic relief decorative pot whose textured surface dialogues with the embossed relief of the leaves.
- Decorative pot and color scheme: the dark green and silver veins stand out particularly well against an anthracite Brussels decorative pot — the dark background enhances the intensity of the foliage and accentuates 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, without the 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, so reduce watering and wait for the return of warmer days without panicking.
- Avoid drafts: Alocasia is particularly sensitive to sudden temperature changes - choose a stable location away from open windows in winter and air conditioning units.
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 when conditions are optimal.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Alocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'
- Common name: Alocasia Dragon Scale, Elephant ear
- Family: Araceae
- Origin: Borneo (Southeast Asia)
- Available formats: H25 cm | Pot Ø14 cm / H30 cm | Pot Ø14 cm
- Mature size: up to 40–60 cm indoors
- Light: bright indirect light
- Substrate: light, airy and well-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
- Special feature: thick, dark green leaves with highly pronounced silver veins and a unique raised embossed texture 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.