The illustrated growing guide
Alocasia (Elephant Ear)
Alocasia × amazonica
Family Araceae
Est. zones 10-11
The dramatic arrow-leaf 'African mask' plant — stunning and demanding: it wants warmth, humidity, and bright indirect light, and it will drop every leaf and go dormant if it gets cold or dark (that's not death — the tuber revives). Spider mites in dry homes are the usual assassin. Not the hardy outdoor elephant ear (Colocasia).
Bright indirect — no harsh direct sun
Moderate water
Moderate in warmth growth
Deer-resistant
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing alocasia (elephant ear)? Hang it.
Our Houseplants Vol. 1 collection carries alocasia (elephant ear) — Alocasia amazonica, print Nº 15, “Alocasia.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will alocasia (elephant ear) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what alocasia (elephant ear) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-11Alocasia (Elephant Ear) at a glance
Common alocasia (elephant ear) problems
- Spider Mites (the #1 killer)
- Mealybugs
- Root Rot
- dormancy from cold/low light
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow alocasia (elephant ear): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate alocasia (elephant ear)
When to spray alocasia (elephant ear)
Growing season. Humidity + warmth + airy mix; mites love the dry-air version.
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The year
What alocasia (elephant ear) asks for, month by month.
The alocasia (elephant ear) year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for alocasia (elephant ear) — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Alocasia (Elephant Ear) in the garden system
What alocasia (elephant ear) is grown for
⚠ Toxic if eatenToxic to cats/dogs and kids (calcium oxalate)
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of alocasia (elephant ear), ruled as a catalogue.
Best alocasia (elephant ear) varieties & cultivars
'Polly'/'Amazonica' (dark arrow leaves, white veins); 'Zebrina' (striped stems); jumbo 'Regal Shield'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to alocasia (elephant ear)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Alocasia (Elephant Ear) questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat alocasia (elephant ear)?
Rarely — alocasia (elephant ear) is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is alocasia (elephant ear) safe for kids and pets?
No — treat it as toxic if eaten. Toxic to cats/dogs and kids (calcium oxalate) Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate alocasia (elephant ear)?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where alocasia (elephant ear) sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron