Alocasia Sumo® - Elephant's Ear

The Alocasia 'Sumo' is a variety that perfectly lives up to its nickname of 'Elephant Ear'. It is a majestic indoor plant that adds an intensely tropical touch to your decor. Its huge plicate, dark green leaves with a purple underside are impossible to ignore. To keep it comfortable, place it in a bright spot without direct sunlight and maintain high ambient humidity. Regular watering, allowing the substrate to slightly dry out between waterings, helps prevent overwatering.

The Alocasia 'Sumo' is a hybrid between Alocasia 'Portora' and Alocasia princeps 'Purple Cloak'. This herbaceous perennial exhibits rapid growth, reaching an indoor height of 90 cm to 1.20 m and a spread of about 90 cm. The plant has an elegant upright habit. Its heart-shaped leaves can grow up to one metre long. Their surface is smooth and slightly glossy. The intense green of the upper side contrasts with a deep purple underside. The prominent veins give the lamina a graphic texture. The leaves are supported by sturdy petioles ranging from purple to black. Although flowering is rare indoors, a mature plant may produce subtle inflorescences typical of the Araceae family. All parts of the Alocasia 'Sumo' are toxic if ingested, so it should be kept out of reach of children and pets.
The Alocasia genus originates from the tropical regions of Southeast Asia where these plants thrive in warm and humid environments, often in undergrowth. This origin explains its specific needs: filtered light, high humidity (around 60-70%), and a constant temperature between 15 and 27°C. Magnificent, they can sometimes be challenging to acclimatise to our interiors where the air is too dry. Their roots are also sensitive to excess moisture as well as drought. The ideal temperature for cultivation is around 20°C.

The Alocasia 'Sumo' is among the best varieties for infusing a tropical and lush atmosphere into your interior. With its imposing habit, this plant finds will fit in a contemporary living room where it will reign majestically. It will also blend beautifully with a bohemian decor, surrounded by ethnically patterned tapetums and wicker baskets, or in an urban jungle setting, accompanied by plants like Monstera deliciosa and Calathea orbifolia. In a conservatory, the Alocasia 'Sumo' will thrive fully if placed in a large matte ceramic or gold metal planter for a chic art deco effect. For an industrial style, opt for a black metal stand and pair it with raw wood furniture. Its sculptural silhouette will also fit into a Zen or minimalist decor. This variety forms a beautiful duo with an Alocasia Polly, to play with contrasts in size and colour, or a Ficus elastica 'Tineke'.