About
Alocasia brisbanensis is a perennial plant with a rhizomatous growth habit, indigenous to the rainforests of Eastern Australia. It is primarily cultivated for its foliage, featuring large, rippled, heart-shaped leaves that are glossy and dark green, supported by equally dark stems. In the summer, it produces greenish-cream flowers that resemble those of the arum lily, followed by clusters of red berries that develop on spikes after flowering.
About the genus
Alocasia consists of sturdy, evergreen perennials that develop rhizomes or tubers. They feature large, typically peltate leaves marked by prominent veins. While their flowers are somewhat inconspicuous, they can give rise to orange-red fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Bushy, Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1-1.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Houseplants, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
- Fragrance
- Flower
- Toxicity
- TOXIC if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost with added perlite, in bright, indirect light. Water freely and apply a general liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks from spring to autumn. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Reduce watering to a minimum in winter, and keep above 15°C. See Alocasia for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by division of offsets at the base of the plant
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids and caterpillars
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free