African Mask Plant / Elephant Ear Plant Identification ( Alocasia )

Elephant Ear Plant Identification ( Alocasia ) Guide

Botanical Name: Alocasia

Native Country: Subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia

The Elephant Ear plant has glossy leaves that are heart-shaped and wavy.  This Elephant Ear plant can add bling to your living space with its dramatic appearance. In outdoors, it can be tall as a tree but indoors it is only capable of growing as a bonsai and reaches to 6 inches.  It is a tuberous perennial and the flowers are rarely seen at the end of the stalk. The stem is a corn and edible, however, the plant contains calcium oxalate as well as protease irritants that can cause skin allergies, gastrointestinal infections if ingested and breathing problems.

Tips:

This African Mask plant is poisonous and hence, you are advised to keep it out of the reach of kids and pets. The lower part is said to be more toxic in nature. It is suggested to boil the African Mask plant with tamarind before consumption.

The plant can’t survive in low-light conditions and need brightly lit atmosphere. Greenhouse cultivation is best for them however with proper care; you can manage to grow them in pots too.