Alocasia macrorrhizos
Alocasia macrorrhizos, Giant Taro, is an impressive aroid common in Southeast Asia and Melanesia, from where it has spread with human cultivation into Micronesia and Polynesia. It is a large bold plant with dramatic upward-pointing leaves that have a distinctive arrowhead shape. On the underside the veins are prominent and raised. This foliage creates a very exotic and tropical atmosphere and as the plant matures it forms a thick brownish trunk. This stout and somewhat woolly trunk is also very attractive and the way the foliage appears to spring from it like a giant green umbrella is rather wonderful. It is more tolerant of cold than the related genus, Colocasia and in the UK it will retain its foliage far longer into the colder months. It is however not hardy in the normal UK sense of the word and although it can be overwintered outdoors in some very favoured locations, most exotic gardeners tend to dig them up in autumn and bring them indoors, often burying a suitably large pot each spring to be dug up again in October. It should be kept dry during the winter, gradually introducing it to water no sooner than March and slowly increasing the watering, letting it dry out a little between each water until the summer months when it can be watered and fed liberally. It is not uncommon for older plants to reward with a pale green spathe but it is for the mighty exotic foliage that you will probably want to buy it.
Additional Information
| Order | Alismatales |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Sub-Family | Aroideae |
| Synonyms | Alocasia cordifolia, Alocasia grandis, Alocasia indica, Alocasia indica, Alocasia indica var. diversifolia, Alocasia indica var. heterophylla, Alocasia indica var. metallica, Alocasia indica var. rubra, Alocasia indica var. typica, Alocasia indica var. variegata, Alocasia macrorrhiza, Alocasia macrorrhizos var. rubra, Alocasia macrorrhizos var. variegata, Alocasia marginata, Alocasia metallica, Alocasia montana, Alocasia pallida, Alocasia plumbea, Alocasia rapiformis, Alocasia uhinkii, Alocasia variegata, Arum cordifolium, Arum indicum, Arum macrorrhizon, Arum macrorrhizum, Arum montanum, Arum mucronatum, Arum peregrinum, Arum rapiforme, Caladium indicum, Caladium macrorrhizon, Caladium metallicum, Caladium odoratum, Caladium plumbeum, Calla badian, Calla maxima, Colocasia boryi, Colocasia indica, Colocasia indica, Colocasia indica var. rubra, Colocasia macrorrhizos, Colocasia montana, Colocasia mucronata, Colocasia peregrina, Colocasia rapiformis, Philodendron peregrinum, Philodendron punctatum |
| Geographical Origin | Southeast Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia. Naturalised in many parts of the world |
| Cultivation | Full sun or partial shade, it likes warmth during the summer growing season. Water and feed liberally in summer then gradually decrease water in September and stop by October. Transplant to a frost-free environment during winter |
| Eventual Height | 3m |
| Eventual Spread | 2m |
| Hardiness | Not hardy in the UK but cold tolerant and taking - for brief periods of time - sub-zero temperatures down to at least -5C if kept well protected. It's usually best to bring it indoors over winter |
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