Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Herbs
  
Origin
Hybrid origin
  
China, Japan, Korea
  
Types
Alocasia macrorhizzos, Alocasia odora
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Pastures, Wet forest
  
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Open areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
  
5-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
  
9-4
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
  
Green, Light Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
  
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
V-Shaped
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Spring, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
creeping rhizomes, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Divison, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
  
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Keep ground moist, Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
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, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Poorly Drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
No pruning needed, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning, Shape and thin as needed
  
Fertilizers
since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Alternaria Leaf Spot, Leaf rust, Leaf spot, Snails
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Full Sun, Humidity, Soil Compaction
  
Wet Site
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies, pollinators, Snakes
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Sore Throat, Vomiting
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Glowing Skin, Hair Conditioner
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Sometimes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, soil stabilisation, Very little waste
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Digestion problems, Rheumatism
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Florist trade and landscaping, Showy Purposes
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
ALOCASIA x amazonica
  
PETASITES japonicus 'Variegatus'
  
Common Name
African Mask, Amazon Taro, Elephant Ear
  
Giant Butterbur, Japanese Butterbur, Variegated Butterbur
  
In Hindi
Alocasia
  
variegated butterbur
  
In German
Alocasia
  
bunte Pestwurz
  
In French
Alocasia
  
pétasite panachée
  
In Spanish
Alocasia
  
butterbur abigarrado
  
In Greek
Alocasia
  
διαφοροποιημένα butterbur
  
In Portuguese
Alocasia
  
butterbur variegada
  
In Polish
Alocasia
  
barwny Lepiężnik
  
In Latin
Alocasia
  
varius butterbur
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Arales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Araceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Alocasia
  
Petasites
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Colocasiodeae
  
Senecioneae
  
Subfamily
Aroideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available