Elephant ear: plants, location & varieties

The elephant ear plant forms leaves with an area of ​​up to one square meter. This is a considerable size, especially for indoor plants.

Where did the name of the elephant ear (Alocasia macrorrhyzos) comes, can be seen at first glance. Such an imposing plant takes up a lot of space in the room. Here we show you what else you should pay attention to when planting and where to place it.

Elephant ear: flower, origin and characteristics

When it comes to elephant ear plants, there can be confusion, because there are different indoor plants that are known and offered as elephant ears. Most belong to the genus of arrow leaves (Alocasia) - so also the giant-leaved arrow sheet (Alocasia macrorrhyzos

) from tropical Asia, which this article is about. In addition to the name elephant ear, the beautiful houseplant also bears the name giant taro or, quite simply, alocasia. Be referred to as an elephant ear plant alongside Alocasia macrorrhyzos but also Haemanthus albiflos and Kalanchoebeharensis. The plants look completely different and even belong to different genera and plant families.

The giant-leaved arrow leaf is not only common as a houseplant, but is also grown as a useful plant in tropical regions. When cooked, the rhizome can be used as food. The elephant ear, which belongs to the Araceae family, has leaves with a diameter of up to one meter. The leaf stalks arise from the thick, upright growing rhizome. The green leaves are arrow-shaped or heart-shaped with a smooth or slightly wavy edge. Overall, the elephant ear can reach a size of up to 2 m as a houseplant - in nature it can be up to 8 m. The elephant ear flower consists of a bulb-shaped inflorescence in white or light yellow and is enclosed by a light green bract, the spathe. However, it only appears extremely rarely in indoor plants. After pollination, red, spherical berries are formed.

Tip: It is quite normal for the leaves of the elephant ear plant to drip. This is called guttation. Especially when the air humidity is high, the plant releases sap through the leaves.

The most beautiful elephant ear varieties

The giant-leaved arrow leaf is not particularly common as an ornamental plant in the room. Not least because a certain space is also necessary for keeping. Accordingly, the selection of elephant ear varieties is still quite clear.

• Alocasia macrorrhyzos "Variegata": With this variety, the green leaves are variegated white, which looks particularly impressive on the large leaf area.
• Alocasia macrorrhyzos "Lutea": The golden elephant ear has leaf stalks and veins in golden green, which forms a nice contrast to the green leaf surface.
• Alocasia macrorrhyzos "New Guinea Gold": This is a variegated variety in gold and green.

Plant elephant ear

Based on the conditions in the tropical rainforest, the elephant ear likes a bright location in light penumbra in a warm, humid environment. Direct sun should be avoided, as well as temperatures below 15 ° C. This also applies in winter. Year-round room temperatures of 20-25 ° C are excellent for the elephant's ear. Increased humidity can be achieved by regularly spraying the leaves. In addition to the right location is an appropriate one Care of the elephant ear necessary for the plant to develop well.

Tip: Elephant ear plants are not only available ready-made in specialist shops. You can also grow them yourself from seeds or make two from one elephant's ear by dividing the rhizome of the mother plant.

Elephant ear as a houseplant

If the elephant ear is kept as a houseplant, it is important to ensure that the pot is large enough. The plant forms thick rhizomes and can grow up to 2 m. In addition, the elephant ear develops enormously large leaves. It is therefore important to keep the alocasia stable in a large, heavy saucepan. The pot must have a drain hole so that excess water can drain away. The elephant's ear does not tolerate waterlogging. It is best to also create a drainage layer made of pebbles to protect the elephant ear from root rot.

Which soil is suitable for the elephant ear? A soil with a high nutrient content and humus content as well as a slightly acidic pH value is suitable for the elephant's ear. A loose, permeable structure is also important. All of these properties are united, for example, by ours Plantura organic universal soil. It remains structurally stable for a long time, which supports root growth, and provides the plant with all the important nutrients for at least three months. It does without peat at all.

Elephant ear in the garden

In summer the elephant's ear can also go outside in the garden. However, the elephant ear should also be outside in the pot and not planted directly in the garden soil. In early autumn it gets too cold for the plant in our latitudes and it has to be brought into the house. The elephant ear cannot tolerate temperatures below 15 ° C. A protected, partially shaded location is also indispensable in the garden. It is ideal when there is high humidity. For this reason, it makes sense to keep the elephant ear indoors, especially in the particularly dry months of summer. A high level of humidity can be achieved much better here than outside.

Is the elephant ear plant poisonous?

Yes, the elephant ear plant is poisonous due to the milky sap it contains. The sap irritates the skin and mucous membranes on contact, which is why gloves should be worn when handling the plant to be on the safe side. Since the elephant ear is also poisonous to cats and dogs, it is best to keep the plant out of the reach of pets.

Note: In Asia, the rhizome of the elephant ear plant is cooked and consumed. As some species of the genus Alocasia However, they are also incompatible when cooked and some species look confusingly similar, we strongly advise against consuming the houseplant.

Another representative of the arrow blades is the Alocasia zebrina. It is particularly popular as a houseplant due to its unusual pattern on the stem.