So, you’ve got your Top 12 Philodendrons and your Top 10 Anthuriums in your collection…What do you collect now?
Why, Alocasias of course!
In this post, I list 10 gorgeous Alocasia species that are a must-have for indoor plant enthusiasts! This list is in no particular order, and there are many species that I won’t be covering. These are a some of the most popular Alocasias and many can be purchased from specialty vendors or private growers on Etsy, eBay and Facebook.
Time to break out your Planty Wishlist again!
Alocasia regulina “Black Velvet”
Stunning with its starkly contrasting veins, Alocasia reginula “Black Velvet” is a definite must-have! The suede-like leaves can vary from very dark green to black, contrasting with vivid white veins. The leaves are pretty sturdy and thick, almost leather-like, and it seems to tolerate lower humidity better than the thinner-leaved varieties like Alocasia “Frydek.” These plants are pretty affordable and readily available all over the Internet, but Etsy and eBay seem to have the best prices. There are some vendors selling through Amazon, but their prices are quite high. If you’re a newbie to Alocasias, I would recommend trying this species first before buying any others.
Alocasia cuprea
Alocasia cuprea derives its species name, cuprea, from its coppery appearance. The striking leaves have an unusual (usually slightly reddish) metallic sheen, like hammered copper. Common names include “Mirror Plant” or “Jewel Alocasia” and it’s not hard to see why. These plants can be quite pricey and hard to find. On Etsy and eBay, prices can range from $75USD to $300USD. More affordable plants come from Indonesia. Unfortunately, ordering plants from overseas in the time of COVID is not something I would like to risk. One day, I hope to acquire one, but for now, I’ll have to put it down on my Wishlist and drool over images on the Internet.
Alocasia baginda “Silver Dragon”
Alocasia baginda “Silver Dragon” is another extremely popular Alocasia species. The leaves are silvery to a pale light green, with slightly-ribbed, darker green veins. The foliage is very striking, and the lighter leaves can brighten up dimmer areas in your home. In terms of price, it is more affordable (but not by much!) than the Alocasia cuprea. Depending on where you find your plants online, prices can range from $50 USD to $125 USD. The lower-priced plants tend to be younger and smaller. Etsy appears to be the best place to find them right now but eBay does have a few options as well.
Alocasia clypeolata “Green Shield”
Alocasia clypeolata “Green Shield” is a stunning plant with dramatic foliage in a vibrant shade of spring green, with contrasting dark greenish-black veins. The thick, leather-like leaves are an oval-shape. In milder climates, they can be planted outside and grow quite large, spanning several feet in width and height. Alocasia clypeolata is extremely hard to find. I’ve only been able to locate a couple of listings on Etsy, for prices ranging from $50 USD to $70 USD.
Alocasia baginda “Dragon Scale”
The Dragon Scale Alocasia looks just like its name describes—the ribbed, scaly hide of some legendary fire-breathing beast. The foliage is textured and quite dark green, usually with even darker veins. It may be confused with Alocasia clypeolata “Green Shield”, except that the Dragon Scale Alocasia appears to be less vibrant green and may have darker tertiary venation around the edges of their leaves. These Alocasias can grow quite large in ideal conditions. While generally rare, they are found pretty consistently on Etsy and eBay, usually between $60 USD to $120 USD. Unfortunately, eBay’s prices tend to be much higher and most of their listings are shipping from Indonesia.
Alocasia micholitziana “Frydek”
Alocasia micholitziana “Frydek” is hugely popular and most aroid collectors seem to have one whenever you are browsing “plant shelfies” on Pinterest or Instagram. It’s not surprising when you get a good look at those lush greens with stark white veins, and the velvety leaf texture. Fortunately, they are readily available (mostly from vendors online) so their prices are much more affordable. You can pretty much find these all over the internet, including eBay, Etsy, Amazon and other small business nurseries like Logee’s. This is one of those Alocasias you must have just to start your collection!
Alocasia baginda “Pink Dragon”
If you love pink, this Alocasia is for you! The Alocasia “Pink Dragon” literally has a different color on every surface. The topside of the leaves are a lush, dark green with lighter green veins; the underside is a deep burgundy with lime-green tessellations; and those rosy pink stems! This unique plant is, fortunately, quite affordable and does not command the sky-high, three-digit prices of some of the other Alocasia species. Strangely though, at the time of this writing, it does not seem to be offered commonly in cultivation by online sellers. I purchased my plant from Etsy early in 2020, and it seemed like there were quite a few vendors selling this plant. Chalk it up to COVID-19, perhaps? Check out my post about my Etsy plant shopping experience.
Alocasia macrorrhiza “Stingray”
The Alocasia macrorrhiza “Stingray” is an Alocasia with a very unique leaf shape from which it derives its name. Their stems tend to have faint markings reminiscent of Alocasia zebrina. In contrast, the Alocasia “Stingray” leaf shape is ruffled and bat-like, with each leaf terminating in a long, thin, almost whip-like tail. As seen in the photo, these plants can get quite large.
Unfortunately, like the Alocasia “Pink Dragon”, the Alocasia “Stingray” has also become less commonly found in cultivation, and prices have skyrocketed substantially. Earlier in 2020, I recall seeing them being offered all over the Internet for prices in the $20 USD to $35 USD range, depending on size. Now the only prices I can find are between $65 USD to $125 USD, with a particularly ridiculous price on Etsy for over $500. Yeaaah, no thank you… But keep your eyes out for some lower priced options that might come on the market! Remember to check eBay too!
Alocasia zebrina
Alocasia zebrina looks as its name suggests—their leaf stems have a striking dark zebra pattern running over them. The leaves are quite standard and are not particularly ornamental nor eye-catching. These plants grow somewhat large (about three feet tall and wide), so prepare to give them that space. Like Alocasia “Stingray”, Alocasia zebrina was quite easily found online at the beginning of the 2020, and for a pretty affordable price. Now, in December 2020, they are scarce and the prices have climbed to an eye-popping amount—between $120 USD to $500 USD on Etsy. WHAT??? Put this plant on your Plant Wishlist, but I would not recommend buying right now unless you have money to burn.
Alocasia longiloba
Alocasia longiloba is a very attractive species looks almost like Alocasia “Pink Dragon” minus the distinctive pink stems. Their leaves are similarly sagittate (arrow-shaped) and dark green, with whitish veins and deep burgundy-purple undersides. These Alocasias are not available anywhere at the moment, except maybe directly from Indonesia. So put it on your Plant Wishlist and keep your eye out for it in the future!
Last Thoughts
If you have several—or all (lucky you!)— of these Alocasias, and you need some care tips, be sure to check out my blog post “An In-Depth Guide to Alocasia Care“!
And that concludes our “Top 10 Alocasias You Must Have!” Have you added anything new on your Plant Wishlist? Share what you think in the comments!
Always Keep Growing,
Heather (a.k.a. The Botanical Chick)
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