Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'

RHS Plant Profile
Amazonian elephant's ear plant 'Polly'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Amazonian elephant's ear plant 'Polly' RHS / Joanna Kossak
Amazonian elephant's ear plant 'Polly' RHS / Joanna Kossak

Synonyms

Alocasia 'Polly'

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £24.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

A compact, tender rhizomatous perennial, with large, shield-shaped dark green leaves with contrasting silvery green veins. Undersides of leaves are purple. Occasionally produces yellow spathe flowers

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Araceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
TOXIC if eatenskin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. TOXIC to pets - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Alocasia are robust evergreen rhizomatous or tuberous perennials with large, usually peltate, leaves with conspicuous veins; insignificant flowering spathes may be followed by orange-red fruits
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost with added perlite, in bright, indirect light. Water freely and apply a general liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks from spring to autumn. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Reduce watering to a minimum in winter, and keep above 15°C. See Alocasia for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or summer, or by softwood cuttings in spring. Propagate by seed at 23°C (73°F) as soon as ripe

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Houseplants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free