Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Tender Perennial
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
-
Types
-
Alocasia macrorhizzos, Alocasia odora
Number of Varieties
3-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
Pastures, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12-8
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Brown
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Green, Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Lime Green, Dark Green, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
V-Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
creeping rhizomes, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires a lot of watering, 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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade, Full Shade
Pruning
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
since leafy plants, use higher nitrogen content fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Alternaria Leaf Spot, Leaf rust, Leaf spot, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Full Sun, Humidity, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies, pollinators, Snakes
Allergy
Asthma
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
Erosion control, Wildlife
Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, soil stabilisation, Very little waste
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Aging, Digestion problems, Rheumatism
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves, Rhizomes
Other Uses
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Application in Handicrafts, Florist trade and landscaping, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BETULA nigra
ALOCASIA x amazonica
Common Name
River Birch
African Mask, Amazon Taro, Elephant Ear
In Hindi
River Birch
Alocasia
In German
Fluss Birch
Alocasia
In French
Birch river
Alocasia
In Spanish
river Birch
Alocasia
In Greek
ποταμός Birch
Alocasia
In Portuguese
river Birch
Alocasia
In Polish
Rzeka Birch
Alocasia
In Latin
Betula
Alocasia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Fagales
Arales
Family
Betulaceae
Araceae
Genus
Betula
Alocasia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
-
Colocasiodeae
Subfamily
-
Aroideae
Number of Species
3-
1
27800
👆🏻