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Alocasia sarawakensis

Alocasia sarawakensis
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0

Alocasia sarawakensis is a large, shrub-like elephant ear from Borneo's freshwater swamp forests that can reach about 2.4 m. It needs bright light, warmth and steady moisture, and it is a demanding plant for home growers outside the tropics.

Family
Araceae (Arum family)
Grows as
Shrub
Light
Bright indirect
Water
Water moderately during the growing season and keep the mix evenly moist without waterlogging.
Soil
Rich, loose, well-draining aroid mix with added organic matter.
Temperature
18–32 °C; avoid anything below about 10 °C (50 °F).
How easy
Hard
Safety
Toxic: All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause burning and irritation of the mouth, throat and skin if chewed or handled.. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
Borneo
Climate
wet tropical

About

Alocasia sarawakensis is a species of flowering plant in the elephant ear genus Alocasia (family Araceae), native to Borneo. Unusually for an aroid, it is a freshwater swamp forest obligate, preferring well-lit situations. A large species, it can reach 8 ft (2.4 m). A cultivar, 'Yucatan Princess', is commercially available.

Alocasia sarawakensis can be difficult for home gardeners in Europe or North America to grow; it will not tolerate extended periods of temperatures below 50°F. During its growing season, moderate watering paired with weekly feeding are required for Alocasia sarawakensis to thrive.

Other Alocasia plants

Alocasia azlanii · Alocasia baginda · Alocasia brancifolia · Cunjevoi · Chinese taro · Alocasia fornicata · Alocasia heterophylla · Alocasia infernalis · Alocasia lauterbachiana · Alocasia longiloba · Giant taro · Alocasia melo

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Alocasia sarawakensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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