Alocasia sp.

[Jeff Searle]

This is looking so nice now, I just had to take a picture to share. These are really incredible to grow. This was planted approx. 8-9 months ago from a large 3gallon pot. The plant was probably about 5' tall. It's now sending small babies off the side of it. I just love the tropical feelings you get from this. Anyone else have  one to share? And I'm not too sure on what minimum temp.'s it will take.

Jeff

[Jeff Searle]

Another angle at it.

[Really full garden]

Jeff,

         I have been wanting to try this,they are spectacular!It looks like something the dinosaurs would have eaten.Agri-Starts has this from tissue culture and I have seen tubers for around $30.I can get small plants in without much hassle.A five pound tuber might be had to explain.

                                                                       Scott

[John Case]

(Jeff Searle @ Nov. 27 2007,11:51)

QUOTE

This is looking so nice now, I just had to take a picture to share. These are really incredible to grow. This was planted approx. 8-9 months ago from a large 3gallon pot. The plant was probably about 5' tall. It's now sending small babies off the side of it. I just love the tropical feelings you get from this. Anyone else have  one to share? And I'm not too sure on what minimum temp.'s it will take.

Jeff

Jeff,

If that is a macrorhizza (Sp.?) it will be bigger next year for you.

I have one in my backyard in NorCal. After the January freeze it died to the ground but recovered this year to about 6 feet tall with a lot of pups. I am going to have to dig mine up and divide this winter.

[ariscott]

I don't know what this one is... and it is not mine. It was taken at the Kebon Raya Bogor with my daughter when she was 2.5 years old. Whatever it is, I want one!!

Regards, Ari

[SubTropicRay]

Another massive beauty.

[palmmermaid]

Jeff,

I just put a 3 gallon one in my yard in a moist sunny area.  So far, so good.  I love the leaves and the primordial look of these!

[Jeff Searle]

(bepah @ Nov. 27 2007,19:11)

QUOTE

(Jeff Searle @ Nov. 27 2007,11:51)

QUOTE

This is looking so nice now, I just had to take a picture to share. These are really incredible to grow. This was planted approx. 8-9 months ago from a large 3gallon pot. The plant was probably about 5' tall. It's now sending small babies off the side of it. I just love the tropical feelings you get from this. Anyone else have  one to share? And I'm not too sure on what minimum temp.'s it will take.

Jeff

Jeff,

If that is a macrorhizza (Sp.?) it will be bigger next year for you.

I have one in my backyard in NorCal. After the January freeze it died to the ground but recovered this year to about 6 feet tall with a lot of pups. I am going to have to dig mine up and divide this winter.

John,

     I still am not sure,as well as many other people it seems, what is exactly the species of this plant. It's in tissue culture now, but just under the name "Borneo Giant". I find it very interesting that you are growing it in northern Calif.  Even though it died back but then resprouted and grew to 6' in one summer. I'm sure your pleased to have it included in giving you that tropical feeling.

Jeff

[Jeff Searle]

(ariscott @ Nov. 28 2007,04:17)

QUOTE

I don't know what this one is... and it is not mine. It was taken at the Kebon Raya Bogor with my daughter when she was 2.5 years old. Whatever it is, I want one!!

Regards, Ari

Ari,

    I want to say that your plant in the photo is maybe something different. It looks like it has a silver color to the stems, which I have seen before. But, it looks to be another giant grower as well. Thanks,

Jeff

[Eric in Orlando]

'Borneo Giant' is a cultivar of Alocasia macrorrhizos.

Ari, the one in your photo looks to be Colocasia gigantea.

[Peter]

I've not had luck with any of the  Alocasia macrorrhiza's in Inland Socal, but Colocasia gigantea grows like a champ here; stays up all winter, and this year it even seeded for me.

[spockvr6]

I have hesitated to plant any of these larger Alo/colocasias, but after seeing these pics, I think I just might have to do it!

[freakypalmguy]

Very nice Jeff.

I have heard that Alo/colocasias are very frost sensitive and will completely defoliate in the winter but remain alive underground and will come back in the spring. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

I have a colocasia(black magic)  in my yard right now and am waiting to see what happens this winter. I don't mind defoliation for a few months as long as it come back.

What do you all think?

Matt

[palmmermaid]

I bought my "Borneo Giant" from a lady at the Tropiflora sale.  I asked her about them going down in the winter.  She said most of them "down size" in the winter but come back in the spring.  I've found that to be true.  My mom grows some of them in Jacksonville and they are killed every winter and then come back every spring.

[freakypalmguy]

Cool Kitty, thank you. I want mooorrrre.  

Take care,

Matt

[ariscott]

Thanks Eric,

I haven't tried very hard to find it here in Australia - I have too many plants to plant still in my shade house. I will plant one of those giant alocasia/colocasia... that is for sure.

Regards, Ari

[aussiearoids]

Ari , the colacasia gigantea are very easy to get here . They set seed all the time , and its easy to grow . I just planted one , and its powering away . Here is one out the front of Gregs just up the road .

[ariscott]

Thanks Michael,

When I am ready, I will contact you   . At the moment, can't keep up with planting trees and mowing!!!! Man, that is the worst thing about having 5 acres!!!!

Regards, Ari

[aussiearoids]

remember , massive circle of mulch around every planting makes for less mowing .. I mow real fast and when I look at areas that are hard to get to .. thats were I plant something next  

buy a 20 lt of herbicide and anyday its not raining

spray away ... get mulch delivered in semi tippers ..

[BigFrond]

Very nice Jeff.  I have one in my backyard with two pups.  It is not as big as yours but definitely one of my favorite because the leaves can last over a year.  Mine is comming back really nice after the last powerful Santa Ana (over two days).  The 80 mph wind gust ripped many of the leaves to shread.

[palmmermaid]

(aussiearoids @ Nov. 29 2007,17:02)

QUOTE

remember , massive circle of mulch around every planting makes for less mowing .. I mow real fast and when I look at areas that are hard to get to .. thats were I plant something next  

buy a 20 lt of herbicide and anyday its not raining

spray away ... get mulch delivered in semi tippers ..

I love your philosophy!  I will try that.

A friend has been helping me with some new beds.  When we pull weeds and grass out of the area, I lay it down on the next area very think and leave it for about a month.  This kills the hated St. Augustine grass.  Then I just move the stuff to the next area.  Works well.

[ariscott]

(aussiearoids @ Nov. 29 2007,17:02)

QUOTE

remember , massive circle of mulch around every planting makes for less mowing .. I mow real fast and when I look at areas that are hard to get to .. thats were I plant something next  

buy a 20 lt of herbicide and anyday its not raining

spray away ... get mulch delivered in semi tippers ..

I have Michael, but then we might need to hire a little dingo to spread the mulch. Last time it almost killed Scott's back   . I think he did 20 wheelbarrow loads or more, for just 1 garden bed!!!! After that, we started using hay... because it is a lot easier to spread and we just put the bales in the trailer and take them everywhere in the block.

And I have been spraying too, much to my own disgust... but then, it needs to be done.

On top of that, I just killed our OLD ride-on...   .

Regards, Ari

[Eric in Orlando]

Some others that get big and are very easy to grow;

Alocasia 'Calidora'

Alocasia 'Sarian'

Alocasia odora

[Eric in Orlando]

Alocasia 'Portora'

Xanthosoma sagittifolium

Alocasia portei

Alocasia sinuata

[Eric in Orlando]

Then a couple of smaller but attractive ones;

Alocasia zebrina

Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Variegata'

[Jeff Searle]

Eric,

  Great stuff,and should be used more in the landscapes.

Jeff

[ariscott]

Eric,

You are killing me   - I might have to save your photos for my reference . I really hope I can pick up more alocasia next year. They are trully beautiful and so easy to grow too.

Regards, Ari

[Peter]

Nice Eric,

love the Sarian-wish it would grow properly for me here in Inland Socal.  A. lutea is another great one for South Florida.

[aussiearoids]

I would really like to get some sarian also Ari . Do not know if it is in Australia yet .

Eric , A.sinuata is a much smaller species with a bullate leaf , also known as 'Quilted Dreams' .. And zebrina is a bit different as well , that looks like what I know as maximilliana , and is also listed as a hybrid on one of the TC sites .. zebrina x wenzelii from memory .. maximilliana seems to be an invalid name , but is the only one I have for that big plant .

[gcyao]

(aussiearoids @ Dec. 02 2007,03:28)

QUOTE

...And zebrina is a bit different as well , that looks like what I know as maximilliana , and is also listed as a hybrid on one of the TC sites .. zebrina x wenzelii from memory .. maximilliana seems to be an invalid name , but is the only one I have for that big plant .

Michael,

Dr. Alistair Hay, the Australian Alocasia expert, lumped wenzelii together with zebrina.

George

[Walt]

I bought a Borneo Giant this past spring, plus a couple more alocasia apsecies. I got them from a vendor who grew them from 72 count cell packs from Agristarts in Ft. Myers, Florida.

What I want, but they are not in stock at present, is Alocasia robusta, the king of alocasia in terms of ultimate size. When Agristarts makes them available again I plan to get some.

http://www.agristarts.com/aloc_robusta.htm

[Jeff Searle]

(Walt @ Dec. 03 2007,14:50)

QUOTE

I bought a Borneo Giant this past spring, plus a couple more alocasia apsecies. I got them from a vendor who grew them from 72 count cell packs from Agristarts in Ft. Myers, Florida.

What I want, but they are not in stock at present, is Alocasia robusta, the king of alocasia in terms of ultimate size. When Agristarts makes them available again I plan to get some.

http://www.agristarts.com/aloc_robusta.htm

Walt,

     I tried to grow A. robusta and they turned out to be an awful grower. They came from Agri Starts. I also have talked to other people that had similar problems with this specie.

Jeff

[Eric in Orlando]

Alocasia robusta seems very difficult to grow as a juvenile. I have killed dozens trying. Once they get a foot or so tall they seem to be easier. I have a couple in the ground now that are growing so hopefully these will make it.

Anyone have a large specimen?