Alocasias are one of those plants that prove foliage can be every bit as exciting as flowers. Often called Elephant Ears, their enormous, beautifully shaped leaves instantly bring drama and a lush, tropical feel to a garden or indoor space.

There are lots of varieties to choose from. Alocasia macrorrhizos is the big one, producing enormous green leaves and eventually becoming a substantial plant, so give it plenty of room. More compact varieties like ‘Polly’, ‘Frydek’ and ‘Black Velvet’ have incredible foliage and are fantastic in pots or indoors.

Being tropical plants, Alocasias love warmth, humidity and moisture during the growing season. Give them compost-rich, well-drained soil and keep the moisture consistent.

Outdoors in Sydney, I like them in morning sun or bright filtered light, protected from harsh afternoon sun and strong winds that can damage those huge leaves. Indoors, give them plenty of bright indirect light.

Don’t panic if they slow down or lose leaves through winter. They can become semi-dormant as temperatures drop, so reduce watering and wait for the warmth of spring to bring them back to life.

For me, Alocasias are all about scale and drama. Those magnificent leaves can completely transform a space — happy gardening. 🌿