About
Alocasia x chantrieri is a hybrid resulting from the cross between Alocasia cuprea and Alocasia sanderiana. This tropical perennial features a rhizomatous growth habit and is primarily cultivated for its impressive foliage. Plants can attain a height of around 60 cm, while their leaves can measure up to 1 meter in length and 30 cm in width. The foliage exhibits an elongated heart shape, characterized by pronounced lobes at the back, with deep red undersides and glossy dark green surfaces. The veins are a lighter green, adding to the leaf's distinctive appearance, which also includes gently wavy edges. The flowers consist of a pale green spathe encasing a cream-colored spadix, but they are of lesser importance compared to the plant's remarkable leaves.
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
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1A
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants
- Toxicity
- Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant/allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant/allergen - For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass, grow in an open, ericaceous, well-drained, but moisture-retentive mix, which can include, ericaceous peat free compost, lava rock or pumice, fine fir bark and leafmould or chopped sphagnum moss, choosing a position in bright but diffused light. These plants prefer growing in a year round temperature, between 18-25C. During the growing season, allow the top 5cm of the compost to become just dry, before thoroughly watering the compost. Use clean rainwater at room temperature, if the tapwater in your area is hard, to avoid turning the compost alkaline, which would eventually become toxic to the plant. Avoid plants sitting in water which can cause the roots to rot. Apply a liquid houseplant fertiliser monthly during April to September. Water may be required less frequently in winter, when growth slows right down, and stop feeding until the spring. Repot every 2-3 years. See Alocasia and houseplant cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- propagate by division once clumps are produced, or by division of the rhizome, potting the sections up individually to root and grow on
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects, glasshouse red spider mite and mealy bugs
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free