Elephant's-ears
Botanical name: Alocasia
Elephant's-ears
Botanical name: Alocasia
Description
Elephant's-ears comprise a genus of tuberous perennial tropical evergreen plants. The nickname "Elephant's ears" comes from their distinct leaf shape. Elephant's-ears are grown as a houseplant all over the world because of the attractive color patterns and shape of the foliage, with many cultivars being available.
Species of Elephant's-ears
Alocasia 'Polly'
Alocasia 'Polly' comprise a genus of tuberous perennial tropical evergreen plants. The nickname "Elephant's ears" comes from their distinct leaf shape. Alocasia 'Polly' are grown as a houseplant all over the world because of the attractive color patterns and shape of the foliage, with many cultivars being available.
Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Big Mac'
Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Big Mac' comprise a genus of tuberous perennial tropical evergreen plants. The nickname "Elephant's ears" comes from their distinct leaf shape. Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Big Mac' are grown as a houseplant all over the world because of the attractive color patterns and shape of the foliage, with many cultivars being available.
Elephant ear 'Dragon Scale'
It’s easy to imagine the striking glossy leaves of elephant ear 'Dragon Scale' adorning the flanks of a mythical dragon. This striking ornamental appeal ensures that gardeners overlook its difficulty of growth and toxicity to humans and animals. This tropical Southeast Asian native is most often grown as a houseplant since it doesn’t tolerate cool climates.
Black velvet
Black velvet is a small, compact variety, regularly grown for a decorative terrarium, house, or office displays. Its almost-black leaves and contrasting silver veins are absolutely unique. Although the leaves look velvety and soft, beware because they are actually rough to the touch!
Elephant Ear 'Regal Shields'
Get transported to the tropics with the elephant Ear 'Regal Shields'! Its large pointed leaves with metallic shine and dark pink undersides make for a striking display. Perfect for patios and indoors, it prefers bright indirect light and moist soil. But beware, all parts are toxic if ingested, so keep away from pets and children.
Alocasia Okinawa Silver
Alocasia Okinawa Silver is a stunning foliage plant with green leaves contrasting beautifully against silver veins. It grows well in shady gardens and can also be kept as a houseplant. The plant is toxic if ingested, so keep away from curious pets and children.
Alocasia Frydek
Often found in partial shade gardens, and occasionally grown as an indoor houseplant, alocasia Frydek is prized for its showy foliage that also makes it easy to identify from other species in the genus.
Kris plant
Kris plant (Alocasia sanderiana 'Kris') is known as the dagger plant because its leaf's edges resemble a kalis dagger with its wavy blade. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its sizeable dramatic foliage. It is on the list of threatened species in the Philippines, where it is endemic.
Elephant's ear
Elephant's ear (Alocasia micholitziana) is most often cultivated as a houseplant for its distinctive foliage. The large, angular leaves are dark green with prominent white veins and can grow up to 30 cm long. Although the plant can flower, it does so rarely unless kept in very humid conditions.
Black stem elephant ear plant
Black stem elephant ear plant (Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Black Stem') is a very rare and quite unusual elephant ear cultivar. It differs from other members of the Alocasia genus by its black stems as well as the dark green leaves with prominent black veins. This ornamental plant adds a wonderful tropical accent to decorative pots, any well-lit space, or cascading over your favorite planter.
Elephant's-ears 'Polly'
Elephant's-ears 'Polly' is a hybrid elephant's-ears cultivar, though its exact parentage is unknown. This cultivar is distinguished by arrow-shaped, dark green leaves with wavy edges and white veins and margins. Elephant's-ears 'Polly' is a popular houseplant, noted for its variegated leaves and dramatic look.
Upright Elephant Ear 'Stingray'
The uniquely-shaped foliage sets upright Elephant Ear 'Stingray' apart from other species in the genus. The appearance of a tail and wings is also why the plant is occasionally called the ‘stingray’ alocasia. It is often grown as a houseplant, and it is occasionally found in tropical shade gardens.
Variegated Upright Elephant Ear
Variegated Upright Elephant Ear is a scarcely-found, stunning tropical plant valued for its large, blotched leaves with unmistakable variegation. This rare elephant ear plant requires 40-60% shade and can reach heights over 2.5 to 3 m when full-grown.
Silver dragon
Silver dragon is grown as a decorative houseplant for its striking silvery foliage. Is toxic is eaten by humans, dogs, and cats, causing mouth and stomach irritation due to insoluble calcium oxalate.
Elephant's ears
Elephant's ears is valued for its rarity and its elegant golden spotted leaves. Its hybrid name Aurea-Variegata means "golden multi-colored" in reference to these leaves. Growers should note that this plant is toxic to humans and pets, but outdoors this toxicity gives it deer and rabbit resistance. It has wider and more deeply veined leaves than other elephant ear plants.
Giant taro
Giant taro is native to Southeast Asian rainforests. It was first cultivated in the Philippines. Its massive leaves resemble elephant ears. If cooked for a long time, these leaves are edible; however, the sap from the plant might hurt the skin. This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Kris plant
Kris plant (Alocasia sanderiana) is a vigorous tropical perennial with prominently lobed leaves that have broad, silvery-white veins and red-green undersides. This indigenous Mindanao plant grows primarily on moist hillsides at low elevated deep forest areas. It's frequently grown for ornamental purposes.
Elephant ear 'Portora'
With a name like "Elephant's-ears", you can quickly grasp the enormity of elephant ear 'Portora'. This plant is an Alocasia cultivar, created by crossing Alocasia portei with Alocasia odora (the name 'Portora' is a portmanteau of these two Alocasias). Not only standing head and shoulders above the rest in height, elephant ear 'Portora''s characteristic elephant-ear shaped leaves also ensure it sticks out in beauty too.
Elephant's ear
Elephant's ear is an Australian member of the 'Elephant's Ear' family native to the tropical parts of the east coast. Growing to nearly 2 m tall, elephant's ear is a spectacular garden feature for tropical home gardens. Exercise caution, however, as the sap, berries, leaves, and roots are all toxic to mammals.
Chinese taro
Alocasia cucullata boasts large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves. The species is fairly low-maintenance, and so it has become a popular ornamental, especially in wet, warm places. Thought to originally hail from Southeast Asia, the plant is now found across much of the world's tropics. Although some species of chinese taro can be eaten, Chinese taro is poisonous. Nevertheless, some Buddhist traditions consider it to be good luck, and so it is cultivated in temples.
Dragon scale
Alocasia baginda is typically grown as an indoor plant and its unique foliage makes it easy to recognize. The markings on the leaves resemble lizard scales which is why it is occasionally called the “dragon scale” plant.
Elephant Ear
Elephant Ear (Alocasia mortfontanensis) is a hybrid species between Alocasia longiloba and Alocasia sanderiana. The Alocasia is known for its large leaves and wide variety of cultivars within the species. Elephant Ear is native to tropical Asia and Australia.
Night-Scented Lily
Night-Scented Lily (Alocasia odora) is a perennial plant whose large leaves grow to 61 cm long and resemble an elephant's ear. Fragrant, peach-colored blossoms bloom in spring and summer. Thrives in heat and humidity, so give it plenty of sun or partial shade in moist, organically rich soil.
Alocasia reginula
Alocasia reginula comprise a genus of tuberous perennial tropical evergreen plants. The nickname "Elephant's ears" comes from their distinct leaf shape. Alocasia reginula are grown as a houseplant all over the world because of the attractive color patterns and shape of the foliage, with many cultivars being available.
Alocasia cuprea 'Red secret'
Alocasia cuprea 'Red secret' comprise a genus of tuberous perennial tropical evergreen plants. The nickname "Elephant's ears" comes from their distinct leaf shape. Alocasia cuprea 'Red secret' are grown as a houseplant all over the world because of the attractive color patterns and shape of the foliage, with many cultivars being available.
Scientific Classification
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