22 Awesome Alocasia Varieties (Species Guide)

If you’re looking to add a unique piece to add to your houseplant collection, Alocasia plants offer a beautiful array of options. From the mysterious allure of the Black Velvet to the finely-detailed and attention-winning Dragon Scales, there are plenty of Alocasia varieties that are perfect for any home.

In this article we will explore 20 of the most popular types of Alocasia varieties that you can keep in your indoors along with their unique care requirements and features.

Whether you’re just getting started keeping houseplants or you’re a experieced plant enthusiast, this articles will help you choose the perfect Alocasia plant to add a touch of tropical flair to your home.

Suggested: Still not sure how to identify your Alocasia plants? Try our houseplant identification tool to find out!


Types of Alocasia Varieties

  1. Ivory Coast Alocasia – Alocasia x amazonica
  2. Black Velvet Alocasia – Alocasia reginula ‘Black Velvet’
  3. Dragon Scale Alocasia – Alocasia baginda
  4. Hooded Dwarf Alocasia – Alocasia cucullata
  5. Stingray Alocasia – Alocasia macrorrhizos ‘Stingray’
  6. Jewel Alocasia – Alocasia reversa
  7. Alocasia Rugosa – Alocasia Melo
  8. Green Velvet Alocasia – Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’
  9. Polly Alocasia – Alocasia Amazonica ‘Polly’
  10. Persian Palm – Alocasia portodora
  11. Samar Lance – Alocasia Scalprum
  12. Kris plant – Alocasia Sanderiana
  13. Triangular Alocasia – Alocasia triangularis
  14. Silver Nebula – Alocasia Nebula
  15. Giant Taro Alocasia – Alocasia macrorrhizos
  16. Red Secret Alocasia – Alocasia cuprea
  17. Black Magic Alocasia – Alocasia infernalis
  18. Malaysian Monster – Alocasia portei
  19. Night-scented Lily – Alocasia odora
  20. Tiger Alocasia – Alocasia zebrina
  21. Alocasia ‘Calidora’
  22. Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’

1. Ivory Coast Alocasia – Alocasia x amazonica

Alocasia x amazonica

With its dark green leaves and silver veins to contrast them, these cultivars bring a little of the tropics home with a whole lot of style. They also won’t take up too much space, with a mature height of 1 to feet and approximately the same width – perfect for brightening up an empty nook or corner.

Your ideal housing medium for this plant will be one part regular potting soil, 1 part peat, and 1 part perlite.

Bright, indirect sunlight is best, as it mimics this plant’s natural home beneath the canopy of other trees.

As far as watering goes, once a week will be adequate, provided that the top inches have dried out completely.

2. Black Velvet Alocasia – Alocasia reginula ‘Black Velvet’

Alocasia reginula 'Black Velvet'

If you want a bit of contrast, the Alocasia Black Velvet is one of the most stunning types of Alocasia varieties you could pick.

Despite the name, it is actually a little rough to the touch, but it also happens to be quite easy on the eyes. It’s got large, almost-black leaves and silver veining that really pops when you look at it.

Regardless of their big personality, these plants won’t get very tall (reaching 11 to 15 inches at full maturity), while the leaves are about 6 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide.

These plants like their soil to be well aerated, so a tropical potting mix should be a perfect fit for them and bright, indirect sunlight is the best. Water-wise, these plants are quite forgiving, and a once a week watering schedule should be fine if the top 2 inches of soil have fully dried out.

Misting is also a good idea if you live somewhere very dry, as this plant likes it warm and just a little humid.

3. Dragon Scale Alocasia – Alocasia baginda

Alocasia baginda

The Dragon Scale Alocasia (also known as the Silver Dragon) is definitely a looker, with large and heart-shaped silver leaves that have black veining throughout – much like an inverted Black Velvet!

This is a much bigger plant than the Velvet, however, with a mature height of 3 to 6 feet tall. This makes the Dragon Scale a great show-plant, so make sure to place it somewhere that you can get a good look every day.

The best soil mix for Dragon Scales will be a mix of perlite, coco coir, and orchid potting mix in equal parts and you’ll want to give it bright, indirect sunlight.

This plant also needs a bit more water than our previous entries. Check the top 3 inches of soil to ensure that it is dry and your watering frequency will likely come out to 3 times a week in the summer months and once a week in winter.

4. Hooded Dwarf Alocasia – Alocasia cucullata

Alocasia cucullata - Hooded Dwarf Alocasia

A little less fancy, but still a good-looking plant, the Hooded Dwarf Alocasia has giant, heart-shaped leaves that are a rich and waxy dark green and these leaves can get big – sometimes as much as 15 inches long by 11 inches wide!

The plant itself can grow up to 13 feet, so you’ll need to prune it from time to time if you are growing it inside, but it more than makes up for it with ease of care.

A well-draining, loamy soil mix is the preferred medium for your Hooded Dwarf and you should give it bright and indirect sunlight – just no direct sunlight, as it may easily burn.

Watering is also a piece of cake, with once a week being quite sufficient, provided that the top 2 inches of soil are dry.

5. Stingray Alocasia – Alocasia macrorrhizos ‘Stingray’

ocasia macrorrhizos 'Stingray'

You’ve never seen leaves like these and this makes the Stingray Alocasia a real conversation-starter. The leaves look much like wings or with a bit of imagination, the stems are the tails on green, swimming stingrays.

It’s a big and beautiful plant, with a mature height of 3.9 – 5.9 feet, and a spread of approximately the same. A great choice for brightening up a corner or your home office!

For housing your own Stingray, mix equal parts of regular potting soil, coarse sand, and peat and your plant should do very well.

Bright, indirect sunlight is good for this plant, but if you want to encourage faster growth then an hour of direct sunlight (or 2 hours in winter) can help to do this.

Watering should be done once a week and it should be thorough, so that you see water coming from the drainage holes in the pot. Check the top 2 inches of soil to ensure that they are dry first and if so, then you can water your Stingray with confidence.

6. Jewel Alocasia – Alocasia reversa

Alocasia reversa

Jewel Alocasia is nothing short of stunning. With it’s large, silvery or dark green leaves, and dark veining patterns it sometimes looks like the leaves were ‘sketched’ in place by a clever artist.

It’s also a little-bitty thing! Alocasia reversa has a fully mature height of about 16 inches, but get this – the leaves themselves can be up to 8 inches long! It’s a whole lot of personality in a teeny-tiny package, making this an excellent little gem to display somewhere private and cozy.

A loamy soil mix will be the best choice for your Jewel Alocasia and bright, indirect sunlight should keep it happy and healthy. For watering, check the top 2 inches of soil, but on average you will be watering it twice a week in the warm months and once a week in winter.

7. Alocasia Rugosa – Alocasia Melo

These Southeast Asian beauties are just a little bit surreal. The Alocasia Rugosa has leaves that are a bluish-silver or sometimes jade color and the color combinations contrast in such a way that the plant is often mistaken for being artificial. It’s a little mind-blowing and something that definitely needs to be seen to be believed.

It also sports a fully mature height of 1 – 2 feet, but this is not a good plant to have around kids or pets. Alocasia Rugosa is tiny, but quite toxic, so keep this in mind if you are thinking of bringing one home.

If you do decide that you’d like one, house it in an aerated, loamy soil so that it’s got proper drainage and it should do very well.

Bright, indirect sunlight is the best choice, although this plant will be tolerant of a bit of shade as well.

As with our other types of Alocasia varieties, check the top 2 inches of soil for dryness, and expect to water this plant every 2 to 3 days when it’s warm and perhaps once a week in the winter.

8. Green Velvet Alocasia – Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’

Green Velvet Alocasia – Alocasia micholitziana ‘Frydek’
James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You’ve seen the Black Velvet, so prepare yourself for another beauty that is all about the green! Green Velvet Alocasias have large, heart-shaped leaves with white veining that rather looks like an artist painted it in. It’s a real stunner, and while the leaves are enormous the plant itself should only grow to be 2 – 3 feet tall when fully mature. This is another toxic plant, however, so factor that in if you have children or pets!

A peat-based mix with good drainage is ideal for your Green Velvet and it likes bright, indirect light and a little humidity – a humidifier or humidity tray should do the trick nicely.

Watering should be done once a week, provided that the top 2 inches of soil have thoroughly dried.

9. Polly Alocasia – Alocasia Amazonica ‘Polly’

Alocasia Amazonica ‘Polly’

A variety of Amazonica, Polly Alocasia is an evergreen perennial with some amazing ‘elephant ear’ leaves that all have creamy-white veining that is sure to amaze and delight.

Even with its giant and attractive leaves, Pollys are quite easy to house and manage, with a full height and width of between 1 and 2 feet only. They’re a great, low-maintenance choice that you’ll enjoy seeing every day on your desk or perhaps in a kitchen nook.

Standard potting soil mixed with equal parts of peat and perlite are an excellent medium for growing these plants and medium to bright, indirect sunlight should be more than enough to keep them happy.

Check the top 2 inches of soil before watering, but it is likely that you’ll need to water it only once a week with some occasional misting of the leaves with your handy water bottle.

If you see any brown or black spots, however, then cut down the water a bit as these are signs that the plant is getting too much.

10. Persian Palm – Alocasia portodora

Alocasia portodora
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Also known as the ‘Upright Elephant Ear’, the Persian Palm is one plant that doesn’t subscribe to the ‘floppy leaves’ philosophy. It’s broad, oddly shaped leaves are a waxy and attractive green and they’ll always be on the perky side.

Make sure that you’ve got a lot of room, because these plants can get up to 13 feet in the wild. While your indoor plant will certainly be smaller, it’s still going to need a lot of living space.

Regular potting soil which you’ll find labelled as ‘composting soil’ is perfect for your Persian Palm and this plant likes bright, but indirect sunlight (up to 2 hours of direct sunlight is okay, but more is not recommended).

Expect to water this plant a lot, however, as it’s soil should always be moist. 2 -3 times per week should be a good frequency, with a little less in the winter.

11. Samar Lance – Alocasia Scalprum

Originally found only on the island of Samar in the Philippines, the Samar Lance has quickly grown in popularity and may now be found in various locations worldwide. It’s easy to see why, as it’s dagger-shaped leaves have a lot of texture and character to go with their dark green hues.

It’s also quite manageable, with a mature height of 12 inches tall, so you get the big leaves without the hassle of housing an enormous plant. Just keep it away from kids and animals, however, because the Samar Lance is beautiful, but it is also quite toxic.

For soil, mix 2 parts of perlite, 1 part regular potting soil, and 1 part orchid bark and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Bright and indirect light is preferred, but this Alocasia is tolerant of lower light and will simply adjust and grow a bit more slowly.

Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry before you water it and you will likely find that once a week is ample for watering and keeping your Samar Lance healthy.

12. Kris plant – Alocasia Sanderiana

Alocasia Sanderiana

With enormous, wavy, and y-shaped leaves that are much like a Kris knife, the Kris plant is quite amply named. The colors go well too, as you get dark green leaves and thick, creamy white lines marked well throughout and sure to get attention.

With a mature height of 6 and a half feet, you’ve definitely got a show plant with the Kris, and with almost a 5 foot spread you’ll want to make sure that it has a lot of space.

The best soil for your Kris will be equal parts regular potting soil, peat, perlite, and coarse sand. Combine this with bright and indirect sunlight and water it only when 50% of the soil is dry – this will probably come out to once a week. A small price to pay for a lovely plant like this!

13. Triangular Alocasia – Alocasia triangularis

Named for it’s lovely triangular shaped-leaves, delightfully spaces with sparse stems, this is definitely an attention-getting plant. The Triangular Alocasia also occasionally sports yellowish-white flowers if you are lucky – all while remaining a manageable 18 to 24 inches at full maturity.

If you take one home, house it in regular potting soil, with equal parts of perlite, orchid bark, and peat moss for best results.

Medium to bright, indirect sunlight is a good fit for this plant and you should water it once a week, provided that the top half of the soil is dry.

A little water soluble fertilizer every 4 weeks will also give it maximum growth potential, so it’s well worth considering spending that extra bit of time.

14. Silver Nebula – Alocasia Nebula

Alocasia Nebula

With noticeable patterning struck across leaves of blue or sometimes a silvery gray, Silver Nebula is one of the most popular Alocasia varieties on the market right now. It’s also not all that enormous, will a full-grown height of up to 3 feet, while sporting 17-inch leaves to tickle your fancy! It’s a good looking plant and definitely one that you’ll want to take home.

As far as soil, Silver Nebulas will do best in a composite mix of regular potting soil, peat, and perlite in equal parts and lots of bright, but indirect sunlight.

Check the top 2 inches of soil before watering and if it’s dry, then go ahead. Frequency will likely be 2 to 3 times a week for this plant and if you have a humidifier, your plant will love it! Without one, daily misting is a good idea as this lovely plant likes it best when the environment is warm and wet.

15. Giant Taro Alocasia – Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos

While it’s ideal for gardening, this beautiful flowering plant can be grown indoors and the flowers are quite similar to the popular Calla Lily! Just be sure to give it plenty of room, as this plant should be anywhere from 3 to 6 feet when it is fully mature.

Soil requirements for a Giant Taro aren’t so bad, as you’ll just need regular potting soil with a bit of pumice or perlite mixed in to improve drainage and bright, indirect sunlight will be best.

Check the top 2 inches of soil to ensure that it is dry before watering and you will likely find that you only need to water it once a week.

For best results, include a little water soluble fertilizer with your waterings from March until September to maximize the chances of flowering.

16. Red Secret Alocasia – Alocasia cuprea

Red Secret Alocasia - Alocasia cuprea

Red Secret Alocasias have leaves that are silvery gray and metallic red and this makes them quite the attention-getter at home. You’ll want to pick a corner for it, however, as this slow-growing plant will eventually attain a height of just over 3 feet, but don’t worry – it’s easy to maintain and a joy to look upon.

An equal mix of peat, coarse sand, and regular potting soil will be optimal for housing your own Red Secret and you’ll need to give it plenty of bright, but indirect sunlight.

As for watering, this plant like to have it’s soil moist, but not wet, so 1 – 2 times per week should be fine as long as you check the soil regularly.

17. Black Magic Alocasia – Alocasia infernalis

The Black Magic Alocasia is definitely a beauty, with it’s purple-black leaves and a robust height of 3 to 6 feet when fully mature, this is a plant that will definitely command it’s own corner and get quite a lot of comments and attention.

A peat-based soil will be your best choice for growing a healthy Black Magic and this species actually likes direct sunlight, although indirect and bright light is also fine.

This is a swamp plant in the wild, so it will likely use a bit more water. Check the top 2 inches of soil and if it’s dry, then go ahead and water. Likely you will be watering this plant twice a week and believe us on this… you won’t mind a bit!

18. Malaysian Monster – Alocasia portei

This plant has similar leaves to the Kris plant but gets quite a bit larger. The Malaysian Monster has a fully grown height of 4 to 8 feet and will occasionally produce small, tan or cream flowers, and you’ll also notice lovely, purple stems.

It’s also quite easy to take care of. For your soil, standard potting soil with a handful of perlite is all that you need to get your plant started.

After that, just give it direct or bright and indirect sunlight and your watering frequency should be just about perfect at twice a week. Just check the topsoil to ensure the top 2 inches are dry and then you can water it with confidence.

19. Night-scented Lily – Alocasia odora

Alocasia odora
Σ64, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Beautiful, but quite toxic, the Night-scented Lily is an Alocasia that you’ll definitely want to have at your home. From the end of spring until well into the summer you can expect fragrant, purple flowers and vibrant red berries with a scent that is especially heady at night.

Combined with the large, heart-shaped leaves it is definitely a winning combination, and you can expect it to grow from 4 to 8 feet tall.

You’ll want to grow this plant in a mix of regular potting soil and perlite, so that it’s got ample drainage, and this lovely will require bright, indirect sunlight if you want to enjoy those lovely flowers later.

Water it only when the top 3 inches of soil or dry and it should come out to about once a week maintenance for a plant that you’re going to absolutely love!

20. Tiger Alocasia – Alocasia zebrina

Alocasia zebrina

The Alocasia zebrina (Tiger Alocasia) has interestingly shaped, bright green leaves that spike out and have a very smooth texture when touched.

If you like a lot of big leaves without requiring a huge space, then it might interest you to know that this low-maintenance beauty is only about 3 feet high when it is fully grown. It does shed old leaves, especially in the summer when it grows quickly, and these are toxic to humans and animals so you’ll want to consider this before taking one home.

For it’s soil, an equal mix of regular potting soil with coarse sand and perlite is a perfect fit for this plant and medium or bright, indirect sunlight is going to be best.

Check the top 2 inches of soil to ensure that they are dry before watering and you’ll likely need to water at a frequency of twice a week. The trick for these is quick waterings in small amounts, as they are prone to root rot if you overwater them.

21. Alocasia ‘Calidora’

Alocasia 'Calidora'

If you’re looking for a houseplant with large leaves, the Alocasia ‘Calidora’ might be a perfect choice! As you can see in the image above, this type of Alocasia features huge, heart shaped leaves with stunning veins that are sure to attract some attention.

Like many other Alocasia varieties, Alocasia ‘Calidora’ perfers bright, indirect light asnd temperatures between 60°f and 80°f. In proper conditions, Alocasia ‘Calidora’ can grow to over 15 feet tall, so this species definitely requires regular trimmings if you plan on keeping it indoors.

22. Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’

alocasia 'regal shields'

With its dark green leaves and glossy appearance, the Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’ is a stunning variety that can make a great addition to any home. Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’ prefers moderate to bright indirect light and moise (but well drained) soil.

The Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’ gets its name from the subtle purple hues on the underside of its large leaves, giving the plant a “regal” appearance.

Like all Alocasia varieties, the Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’ is considered a toxic houseplant, so place it out of reach of any children or pets.


Some Final Words on Alocasias in Your Home

We hope that you’ve enjoyed this little exploration into the broad-leaved beauties known as Alocasias.

As you can see, there is a little something for everyone, just make sure to follow our care tips and a little water-soluble fertilizer every now and again certainly never hurts.

With minimal care, these plants can take up a good amount of space and look absolutely stunning while they do it.

So, pick the one that matches your personality best and with a little care, you’ll be enjoying it’s beauty for many years to come!

If you’re interested in keeping Alocasia, make sure to check out our Alocasia propagation guide and leave a comment below with your favorite variety!

About The Author

Teri Tracy

Hi, I'm Teri! I am a plant collector and former botanist who's spent years learning about and caring for plants from all over the world. I'm passionate about biodiversity and rainforest preservation, and I love to study newly discovered plants in my free time. 

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