About
Alocasia cuprea is a tender perennial that can reach a height of approximately 80 cm. Its leaves, which can grow up to 60 cm in length, are oval and glossy. The emerging leaves display a reddish hue, transitioning to a combination of green and coppery bronze on the upper side as they mature, while the underside is a deep reddish-purple. The leaves are characterized by their rippled texture and prominent, deeply indented veins. This plant may occasionally produce pairs of white spathe flowers.
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
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1A
Plant details
- Plant type
- Houseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants, Sub-tropical
- Native to
- Borneo
- 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, filtered or indirect light. Water freely and apply a general liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks from spring to autumn. Provide humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Reduce watering to a minimum in winter, and keep above 18°C. See Alocasia for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by division in spring or summer, or by stem cuttings in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free