Alocasia zebrina

Credit: Skylar Lang

Flower and fruit of Alocasia zebrina

Credit: Forest and Kim Starr

Alocasia zebrina plant

Credit: Nina Pintar

Alocasia zebrina

Credit: Forest and Kim Starr

Alocasia zebrina, the zebra elephant ear plant

Some plants are cultivated for their flowers, others for their decorative foliage. Alocasia zebrina is also appreciated for its zebra-shaped petiole. Native to the humid zones of the Philippines, it is grown in our latitudes in pots and indoors.

How to recognize Alocasia zebrina?

Alocasia zebrina is an upright perennial. In the open ground, it can reach a height of three meters. It grows more modestly in pots. The largest specimens rarely exceed two meters.

Long petioles emerge from the rhizomatous stump. Pale green, they are streaked with dark brown. This distinguishes Alocasia zebrina from its cousins, alocasia cucullata and alocasia 'Polly.

Each petiole bears a leathery leaf up to a metre long, like a shield. The sagittate leaf blade consists of two green, triangular or oval lobes.

Flowering is rare indoors. But in summer, you may see a pale yellow spadix bloom in the heart of a light green spathe.

The appearance of fruit is even more exceptional in our latitudes. In the wild, flowers give rise to round, orange berries.

Like other plants in the Araceae family, Alocasia zebrina is toxic. Keep it out of reach of pets and young children. Remember to wear gloves when handling it.

Our maintenance tips

Alocasia zebrina are not plants to be placed in everyone's hands. They need light, rich soil, a little knowledge and a lot of attention.

Watering

Keep the soil in your Alocasia zebrina always fresh. When the substrate is one to two centimeters dry, you can water.

Use room-temperature, non-calcareous water. What's best? Recovered rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use filtered water. You can also use tap water, provided you let it stand for a while.

After watering, empty the water stagnating at the bottom of the dish. It may rot the roots.

Spray

The air in our apartments is too dry for plants used to high humidity. Mist your Alocasia zebrina with water at room temperature.

Rainwater is preferable to tap water. Tap water causes white spots on the foliage.

Repotting

In spring, transfer your Alocasia zebrina to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Choose a pierced pot slightly larger than the previous one. It's best to opt for a clay model: this material promotes even drying of the soil.

Line the bottom with a bed of gravel or clay balls. Add a layer of potting soil with perlite or sand. For example, you can mix potting soil for green plants with sand. Place your subject in the center and fill in with substrate to within a couple of centimeters of the edge. Tamp down and water for the first time to encourage rooting.

Fertilization

You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.

To support your plant's growth, feed it every two weeks with a liquid houseplant fertilizer.

Cleaning

The leaves of your Alocasia zebrina accumulate dust. It interferes with photosynthesis and encourages the appearance of parasites. Clean them with a clean, damp sponge.

Remember that alocasia zebrina is toxic. Wear gloves when dusting.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Locate one of the young shoots that has formed at the foot of the main plant. Take care to remove it with its roots.

Prepare buckets with potting soil similar to that used for adult plants. Translucent pots are best. You'll be able to monitor root growth.

Place the bulbils on the surface, flat side down and pointed side up. Water and then place your bulbils in a greenhouse or transparent crate.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybug, accompanied by ants for its honeydew.

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Araceae - Araceae
Type	Alocasia - Alocasia
Species	Alocasia zebrina - Alocasia zebrina
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Half-shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs
Categories	Interior Rhizome Herbaceous
Tag	Toxic
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color
Flower color
Fruit color