Alocasia macrorrhiza - Elefant Ear, Alocasia

As the name of these impressive plants already indicates: the ornamental leaves can indeed grow as tall as a man and reach a diameter of 1 m. This makes the Elephant Ear one of the top- favourites for creating tropical atmosphere in a wintergarden or large living room. The leaves with their long stalk grow rapidly from the strong roots and decorate half-shady as well as shady places all year round, provided that the temperature is constantly above 15 °C. At cooler temperatures most of the sun-sensitiv leaves starts wilting. New leaves will then grow in spring. As a pot plant the overall height will not exceed 2 m, so that Elephant Ear can be permanently kept in a normal living room. The roots are rich in starch and are edible when boiled like potatoes. The flowers clearly show the close relationship to Arum plants: white spike (spadix) which is enfolded by a vaselike white leaf (spatha). After pollination by nocturnal insects bright red berries grow strung on the spadix.

Quality: impressive foliage plant with giant leaves; creates tropical atmosphere all-the-year; edible bulbs; unusual flowers and fruits; adaptable to temperature
Use: all year in a heated greenhouse or bright living room; in pots from May outside on balcony, terrace and in the garden, during winter at a warm place in the house