Native to subtropical Asia and eastern Australia, Alocasias are the most striking houseplants because of their spectacular foliage and visual appeal. They boast stunning foliage in terms of texture, shape, size, and color. Any of these plants would be an amazing addition to your home’s decor. With over 100 varieties, they will be the showpiece of your indoor plant collection.
These plants are suitable for intermediate to expert plant parents, as they can be demanding due to their high humidity requirements, probability of spider mites, and the need for regular repotting. To avoid the humidity issue, be sure to keep a wet pebble tray close by or group plants close together next to a humidifier.
All of them have similar basic traits, but can differ significantly based on size, color, and shape. They can be identified by their arrowhead-shaped leaves that sit on tall petioles. These fast growing houseplants should be planted in loose, well-drained, slightly acidic potting mix or in a crumbly loamy soil for optimal growth.
A note of caution, most of the alocasias are toxic, if ingested. So, make sure to keep them out of reach from children and pets.
Also known as the ‘Silver Dragon’, this jewel Alocasia variant from Southeast Asia features large, heart-shaped silver-green leaves with black veins that resemble large scales. The undersides of the leaves are equally attractive, that is, cream with bold burgundy veins. The leaves with primary and secondary venation grow up to 4-6 inches, flaunting a tropical vibe. As this plant prefers high humidity, spraying water on the leaves several times a day would be ideal. So, if you are planning to keep it indoors, make sure to keep a humidifier or mist. In the springtime and summer, it produces purple spathe flowers that are absolutely breathtaking. This beautiful houseplant can make a bold statement in any room, be it a living lounge or office.
Height/Spread: 3-6 feet/1-2 feet
Season of Interest: Spring and summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9b-11
As the name suggests, this eye-catching Alocasia features yellow and black zebra-like markings on its stem. It also displays the characteristic arrow or shield-shaped leaves, but without the distinctive white veins. However, the leaves are thinner than most other varieties. It produces white spadix flowers during spring. Also known as Alocasia Reticulata, Alocasia Tiger, or Alocasia Leopard is native to Southeast Asia. This funky, striped variety is easy to grow and maintain and guaranteed to steal the spotlight in any home.
Height/Spread: 2-3 feet/2-3 feet
Season of Interest: Spring
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9-11
If you are looking for something dark and mysterious, then this ‘Black Velvet’ or ‘Little Queen’ will be an excellent choice. It has thick, succulent-like heart-shaped deep green to almost black leaves with remarkable silvery-white veins. The leaves have a sort of velvety texture, thus leading to its name. This stunning evergreen perennial is a native of Southeast Asia, blooming into white spadix during spring. Avoid keeping the plant in full sun, as its leaves may easily sear under intense sunlight. Also this variety rarely grows taller than 12-inches and spreads only about 9-inches, it creates a bushy appearance. So, it is great as a table plant.
Height/Spread: 10-12 inches/6-9 inches
Season of Interest: Spring
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9b-11
Generally, the foliage of Alocasia sports white or light green veins on its dark or medium dark green background. However, in Reversa, this pattern is reversed. Here, the mid-section of the leaves are dark-green, and the rest of the leaf is a silvery, light-green. The leaves reach a maximum spread of 8 inches. Originating from Southeast Asia, this low maintenance variant is a prized possession for the gardners and is ideal for an indoor environment.
Height/Spread: 14-16 inches/14-16 inches
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 10a-11
Also known as ‘Green Velvet’ Alocasia, this attuning variety is an excellent alternative to ‘Black Velvet’. It showcases large, heart-shaped, velvety, dark green leaves with wavy edges and glowing white veins. The enormous leaves, growing upto 18 inches long when fully grown can make a bold statement in any space. Another Southeast Asia native, this perennial rhizome produces cream or white spadix with a light green spathe.
Height/Spread: 2-3 feet/2-3 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9b-11
Commonly known as Kris plant, this dramatic beauty is adorned with enormous, wavy, V-shaped, thick, dark green leaves, marked with creamy white lines. It is an immediately noticeable houseplant because of its dramatic-looking leaves. Like any other variety, it also loves surroundings where the moisture level is high. High humidity makes the veins in the leaves more prominent. This Alocasia variety is native to the Philippines and blooms all year round, but more commonly in the summertime. The flowers are small and white and surrounded by a light green spathe.
Height/Spread: 4-6 feet/4-6 feet
Season of Interest: Summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 10a-11
It is a jewel alocasia, featuring coppery-green and silver shimmering leaves with dark green primary veins. This plant is native to Borneo and needs ultimate care and patience to grow. Be sure to keep this houseplant away from direct sunlight exposure. The name ‘cuprea’, has been derived from the unusual coppery appearance of the leaves, which are up to 24 inches long. This rare beauty is also called mirror plant due to its big, glossy green leaves on the top and a deep, copper colour on the underside that brings out the exotic appeal of the plant.
Height/Spread: 0.5-1 foot/0.5-1 foot
Season of Interest: Spring, summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 3-11
As the name suggests, this Alocasia cuprea cultivar, sets itself apart from the other varieties with its signature red or pink tones found on the foliage, giving it a tropical, passionate feel. The ovate, iridescent leaves emerge as soft, subdued coppery green with a pink sheen. The large, boldly colored, eye-catching leaves reach 12 to 18-inches in length when fully grown. Over time the coppery green deepens to a saturated dark green but the pink remains the same. Its veins are so dark they almost appear black, giving it a dramatic look. This evergreen, fast growing houseplant plant flowers rarely.
Height/Spread: 1-3 feet/1-1.5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring, summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9b-11
This amazing evergreen perennial features characteristic arrow-shaped leaves with wavy, undulating edges and creamy-white veining. Though its leaves are giant, it is quite easy to maintain. This one rarely blooms, but when it does, it produces a typical spadix sheathed in a yellowish-green spathe. It can be placed on the desk, or any corner of the house.
Height/Spread: 1-2 feet/1-2 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 10-12
A hybrid of Alocasia x amazonica and Alocasia ‘Aurora’ , this magnificent beauty showcases dark-green arrow-shaped leaves with complementing silver veins. It resembles other Alocasia x amazonica species, except the wavy, crinkled edges. It is fast-growing and well-branched with brown-streaked, blushing pink petioles. As this plant matures, its stems turn light shades of pink, adding that needed pop of color and flair of drama to your home, brightening up any empty nook or corner.
Height/Spread: 3-4 feet/2-3feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9-11
This Alocasia variant has elegant stalks and giant, heart-shaped, glossy, emerald green leaves that can extend as much as 15 inches in length and 11 inches in width. The leaves have prominent veins on the undersides and wavy, upturned leaf margins. Native to Thailand and Laos, this plant produces spadices that emit a striking fragrance. This plant is commonly referred to as Buddha’s hand, as according to Buddhism, this plant is believed bring good fortune to its owners.
Height/Spread: 2-3 feet/1-1.5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 7b-10b
Also known as Alocasia rugosa, this is another eye-catching jewel, boasting the thickest and most heavily textured leaves that grow between 10 and 20 inches in length. Its leaves are jade green to greenish-blue, with a rough texture and prominent deep veins, growing on erect terrestrial petioles. Due to its rough-looking matte finished leaves, the plant is often mistaken for an artificial plant. Rarely, it produces typical anthurium-like, non-fragrant, white flowers. It is a prized possession or any gardener due to its low maintenance. The plant remains stubby and is great for small pots.
Height/Spread: 1-2 feet/1-1.5 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 10-11
Also known as night-scented lily, as it produces fragrant flowers that look like calla lily flowers in spring. These flowers usually have pale peach spathe and spadix. This Alocasia species has an upward growth habit and features paddle-shaped leaves of about 2 feet long and 1 foot wide. This tropical plant is native to East and Southeast Asia, requiring minimal effort to grow.
Height/Spread: 6-8 feet/2-3 feet
Season of Interest: Spring, summer, winter
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 3-10
True to its name, this Alocasia variety features a completely different leaf shape. Unlike the arrow-shaped leaves of other varieties, it has developed rounded, ribbed leaves that point upward and outward with a long, thin, whip-like tail at the terminal end of each leaf. As a result, the leaves resemble a stingray with the fish-like wings and tail. It also has a spotted stem, which adds to its beauty.
Height/Spread: 4-6 feet/4-6 feet
Season of Interest: Spring
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 8b-11
The plant is named so due to its purplish-green, spear-shaped or lance-shaped leaves with a scalloped leaf margin. The undersides of the leaves are accented by coppery hue with tones of purple. The leaves on this Alocasia grow upright and are much longer and narrower than other varieties. This easy-to-care house plant produces relatively small and insignificant flowers that consist of small, fingerlike spadices in shades of purple and green, blooming sporadically throughout the year.
Height/Spread: 3-4 feet/1-2 inches
Season of Interest: Spring, summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 10-11
It has tall rigid stalks holding large arrow-shaped, shiny green leaves with wavy and ruffled edges. Being one of the largest Jewel Alocasia varieties, this tropical plant is ideal for outdoor, since it grows to 12-15 feet tall. Its leaves can also reach 3-6 feet long and 2-4 feet wide. So, overall the plant will take up a lot of space if planted indoors. The flowers of this ornamental plant resemble the popular Calla Lily. Since it is a low-maintenance plant, it can be grown by beginners too.
Height/Spread: 12-15 feet/3-5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring, summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9-11
Also known as ‘Tiger Taro’, this cultivar is known for its narrow and shield-shaped foliage. The topside of the leaves are bluish-green with silvery white blade margins and primary veins, while the underside is a striking deep purple hue. The leaves span about 2 to 3 feet long and 12 to 15 inches wide. A rich burgundy petiole or stem supports the leaves.
Height/Spread: 3-5 feet/3-5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 8b-9a
Often referred to as Hardy Elephant Ear, Purple Umbrella, or New Guinea Shield, this hybrid cultivar is formed by crossing Alocasia gageana and Alocasia odora. Its large leaves can reach 12-inches in length, having a jeweled deep-green shade with contrasting purple-bronze underneath. Mature plants have deeper colors than their juvenile counterparts. Its stunning appearance of this houseplant can easily make a bold statement in any room or office space.
Height/Spread: 1-2 feet/1-1.5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 8b-10a
The attractive, unusual leaves of this plant are a deep, glossy green with a burgundy underside and very dark, prominent white veins. The leaves also have a distinctive slender tip. In addition to these dramatic leaves, the plant also displays attractive pink stems.
Height/Spread: 3-4 feet/1-2 feet
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
Commonly known as ‘Persian Palm’ or ‘Upright Elephant Ear’, this variety can grow to be quite large. This plant boasts gigantic crimped-looking leaves on very long magenta stems. Since the portodora can grow to 4-5 feet, it is best for full-partially sunny areas in the outdoors or on a patio. This type of Alocasia is easier to maintain, a lot harder and more resilient than smaller ones.
Height/Spread: 4-5 feet/1-1.5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring, summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9b-11
As its name suggests, this Alocasia type’s leaves are in the shape of triangles. With three distinct points and wavy edges, the ruffled dark green foliage tends almost to curl inwards. This plant is easier to grow than other Alocasias, emaining a manageable 18 to 24 inches at full maturity..
Height/Spread: 1.5-2 feet/1-1.5 feet
Season of Interest: Spring, summer
Sunlight Requirement: Partial sun
USDA Zone: 9b-11
Best Jewel Alocasia Types: Alocasia melo, Alocasia cuprea ‘Red Secret’, Alocasia infernalis ‘Black Magic’
Best Alocasia Types to Grow Indoors: Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’, Alocasia amazonica ‘Bambino’, Alocasia amazonica ‘Ivory Coast’
Smallest Alocasia Varieties: Alocasia cucullata ‘Hooded Dwarf’
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