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HouseplantsConservatory Greenhouse

Alocasia sarawakensis

A tender perennial, up to around 1.5m high, with upright, speckled stems and heart-shaped to arrow-shaped, glossy green leaves to 90cm long, with lightly wavy edges. Young leaves are hairy on the undersides. Rarely produces a large central cluster of white spathe flowers with red markings

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–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)

H1B

Botanical details

Family: Araceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Clump forming
Potentially harmful: TOXIC if eaten, skin/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: Correct
Plant range: Borneo

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost, in bright, filtered or 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 12°C. See Alocasia for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or summer, or by stem cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.