Elephant's Ear (Alocasia)
[al-oh-KAY-shah]

Annual (usually grown as an annual near you) in the Araceae Family
Oversized, glossy tropical foliage that turns any shady spot into an instant jungle.

Alocasia is a genus of roughly 90 species of rhizomatous or tuberous tropical perennials native to Asia, Australia, and the Pacific islands, grown almost entirely for dramatic, oversized foliage rather than flowers. Leaves are typically arrowhead- or heart-shaped, glossy, and heavily veined, held on long upright petioles, with mature size varying enormously across the genus from compact houseplants to tree-sized landscape specimens. Flowers are inconspicuous aroid spathe-and-spadix structures that rarely appear in cultivation.

Pros

  • Dramatic, oversized tropical foliage
  • Fast growers in season
  • Huge range of cultivars for size and color
  • Thrives in containers, so it can move indoors for winter

Cons

  • Toxic if ingested (calcium oxalate crystals)
  • Sap can irritate skin and eyes
  • Not cold-hardy in Chicago; needs winter protection
  • Wants consistently high humidity
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 24 - 72 inches tall. 24 - 72 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 10a - 11b (Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags Annual, Annual in Chicago, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Full Sun, Grown For Attractive Foliage, House Plants, Medium, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Potentially Toxic, Rabbit Resistant, Tender Perennial, Thrillers, Tropical, Wet
Bloom Period Rarely flowers in cultivation
Flower Color Creamy white (rare bloom; grown for foliage)
 

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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