They are similar to the elephant ears however stand arrowhead straight versus lean over like the elephant ears.
Native to East and Southeast Asia alocasia adore are also often called the night Lily; as they produce flowers similar to calla lilies. The blooms however tend to be more vibrant at night and have a strong scent that can fill an area. Growing alocasia odora plants can be simple as long as one remembers a few things:
- Choose a partially shaded spot! These plants love full morning sun and some shade in the heat of the day.
- Make sure the soil is well draining!
- Make sure they have plenty of room!
These plants can get up to 9 feet tall and 2 to 3 ft wide when planted in the ground versus in a container.
Alocasia odora is Hardy in zone 7B through 11 and should be covered in winter with mulch or leaves in zones below 9 to ensure they stay warm. They grow very well in containers, although they won’t get quite as large as in ground grown plants. Plan to lift the bulbs If planting in an area below zone 7B.
Alocasia odora plants need a bit of fertilizer, such as fish emulsion, throughout the season. Spider mites, mealybugs and aphids tend to like them so keep some soapy water on hand to spray with; or, use an organic spray such as Neem Oil.
