Alocasia Mayan Mask

Alocasia Mayan Mask, also known as elephant's ear, is a hybrid perennial plant with vigorous growth, capable of regenerating from the stump after experiencing short freezes down to around -8°C (17.6 °F). This recent variety is simply stunning with its giant leaves, bright green and deeply veined, whose reverse side seems lacquered with metallic paint in shades of purple, violet, and chocolate. Its cone-shaped inflorescence, called a spathe, recalls its relation to the more familiar Arums. This superb tropical plant will thrive in a bright interior with a humid and warm atmosphere, but it can also be grown in the ground, in partial shade, in regions spared from frost.  

Native to Southeast Asia, Alocasias are plants for hot and humid tropical climates and partial shade. While they are magnificent, they can sometimes be difficult to acclimatise to our interiors, where the air is too dry. Alocasia Mayan Mask is an American horticultural hybrid introduced in 2012. It is a rhizomatous perennial plant related to Arums and belonging to the same family as Araceae. Its original habitat consists of tropical forests populated by tall trees and bathed in a humid atmosphere where temperatures do not drop below 20°C (68 °F). It is a truly imposing plant, developing from a tuberous rhizome, forming a scaly corm covered with thick skin. The mature plant will reach a height of about 2m (6-7 ft) with a diameter of 1m (3 ft), depending on the growing conditions. It forms an upright clump from which long fleshy petioles emerge, carrying immense shiny leaves, medium green on top, distinctly brown-red-violet underneath, thick and inclined outward, reaching a length of 2m (6-7 ft) and a width of 40cm (16 in). The heart-shaped lamina is traversed by deep veins, and occasional small incisions appear near the central vein, creating random patterns. The leaf surface allows water to slide off. During its growth the plant branches out from the base, allowing it to remain elegant. By removing an old leaf, two new ones take its place. The inflorescence, consisting of a spathe and a pale yellow-green spadix, 20cm (8 in) long, appears only rarely and late in cultivation, on mature specimens.

Alocasia can be grown in containers and overwintered in a veranda. Its hardiness could potentially allow it to withstand the mildest Mediterranean or oceanic climates, but air and soil dryness are limiting factors. This lush perennial will bring a strongly exotic touch when planted in a partially shaded area, paired with bamboo, a cycad, a Tetrapanax papyrifer, a banana tree, or even hibiscus. It will stand out as a focal point in a contemporary or exotic design, whether planted on a terrace in a large container or on the banks of a water feature. This voracious plant gets along well with arums, banana trees, or tree ferns, whose magnificence recalls ancient forests.