Alocasia macrorrhizos

Alocasia macrorrhizos is also known as elephant ear due to its the immense size of its leaves. It is also referred to as the poetic dream papangue on the island of Reunion. Its gigantic leaves are bright green. Its yellowish-green inflorescence is shaped like a cone. It is called a spathe, revealing its relationship with arums. This superb tropical plant will thrive in a bright and warm interior. It can be grown in the ground, in partial shade, in regions spared by frost.

Native to Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India, Alocasia macrorrhizos is a rhizomatous perennial plant closely related to arums. It belongs to the Araceae family. Its natural 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 herbaceous perennial plant that develops from a tuberous rhizome, forming a scaly corm covered with a thick skin. The mature plant will reach 50cm (20in) to 5m (16ft) in height and 90cm (35in) to 2m (7ft) in diameter, depending on growing conditions. In a container, it rarely exceeds 2m (7ft) in height. It forms an upright clump from which long fleshy petioles emerge, carrying immense light green leaves that are thick and inclined outward. The leaves reach 2m (7ft) in length by 40cm (16in) in width. The heart-shaped lamina is traversed by deep veins, with occasional small rounded cutouts appearing near the central vein, creating random patterns. The surface of the leaves 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 pale yellow-green spathe and spadix, measures 20cm (8in) in length. It appears late in cultivation, on mature specimens.

It can be grown in containers and stored away during winter. Its hardiness may potentially allow it to withstand the mildest climates. This lush perennial will bring a strongly exotic touch, planted in a partially shaded area, combined 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 setting, both on a patio, planted in a large container, and on the banks of a water feature. This voracious plant gets along well with arums, banana trees, and tree ferns, whose magnificence inspires thoughts of ancient forests.