Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Fruit, Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
South America
-
Types
V. × heilbornii
Alocasia macrorhizzos, Alocasia odora
Number of Varieties
0-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
Pastures, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-9
12-8
Sunset Zone
H1, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Light Yellow, Yellow green
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
V-Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Vegetative Reproduction
creeping rhizomes, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Needs a lot of water initially
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Remove shoots
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Alternaria Leaf Spot, Leaf rust, Leaf spot, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Full Sun, Humidity, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies, pollinators, Snakes
Allergy
-
conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Sore Throat, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Glowing Skin, Hair Conditioner
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, soil stabilisation, Very little waste
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Digestive disorders
Aging, Digestion problems, Rheumatism
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
Used in making champagne
Application in Handicrafts, Florist trade and landscaping, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
VASCONCELLEA x heilbornii
ALOCASIA x amazonica
Common Name
Babaco, Mountain Papaya
African Mask, Amazon Taro, Elephant Ear
In Hindi
Babaco
Alocasia
In German
Babaco
Alocasia
In French
Babaco
Alocasia
In Spanish
Babaco
Alocasia
In Greek
Babaco
Alocasia
In Portuguese
Babaco
Alocasia
In Polish
Babaco
Alocasia
In Latin
Babaco
Alocasia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Arales
Family
Caricaceae
Araceae
Genus
Vasconcellea
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
-
Aroideae
Number of Species
1-
1
27800
👆🏻