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Alocasia x amazonica

Image of Alocasia x amazonica

Gerald L. Klingaman

Family

Araceae

Botanical Name

Alocasia x amazonica

Plant Common Name

African Mask, Amazon Taro, Elephant Ear

General Description

What an amazing Amazon beauty! The arrowhead-shaped leaves of Amazon taro are deepest metallic green with skeletal whitish leaf veins and wavy or incised margins. This vigorous tropical hybrid elephant ear is a cross between Alocasia watsonia and A. sanderiana. During the growing season, greenish white spathe and spadex flowers appear but are generally overshadowed by foliage.

Amazon taro prefers full to moderate shade and protection from scorching sun rays. It requires moist, organic-rich soil with enough drainage to allow fresh water to pass through. Use indoors as a houseplant in temperate zones or set out in a shady garden site in a tropical garden among shade loving annuals or fine-textured foliage plants to accentuate the architectural leaves of this taro.

There are potential health concerns regarding this plant. To learn more go to http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Alocasp.htm

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 8

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    10 - 12

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Tender Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Partial Shade, Full Shade

  • Height

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m (3)

  • Width

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m (3)

  • Bloom Time

    Indeterminate

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Insignificant

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    Red

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green, Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    Yes

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    No

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Bold

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No