Chinese Taro

Chinese Taro (Alocasia cucullata) is the toughest member of a fussy genus. It carries glossy, heart shaped leaves on upright stems to about 1.2m tall and 800mm wide, and it forgives the heat, humidity and irregular watering that leave the collector alocasias sulking. In a pot by a doorway or a damp shaded bed, it gives a tropical look with very little effort.

Why you'll love it

• Deep glossy foliage that holds the light. The leaves are thicker and harder than most alocasias, so they shrug off wind and handling instead of tearing.
• Far more forgiving than its relatives. Where other alocasias drop leaves at the first mistake, this one carries on through a missed week.
• It tolerates wet feet. Damp soil and heavy watering suit it, which makes it a rare pick for ground that drains slowly.
• Indoors or out. A bright room, a shaded courtyard or a tropical garden bed all work, so the same plant can move with you.

Where it works best

Pots and containers. A pot 400mm or wider holds a full clump and keeps the height near 1m. Containers are also how to grow it in cooler cities, where it can shift under cover for winter.

Indoors. Bright indirect light beside a window suits it, and it holds its shape indoors far better than the thin leaved alocasias.

Feature planting in shade. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it works at the front of a shaded bed, or massed under taller palms.

Growing Chinese Taro in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade or bright filtered light is ideal, since harsh afternoon sun bleaches and burns the leaves. Outdoors it needs a frost free garden, so gardeners in cool temperate and inland districts should treat it as an indoor or verandah plant.

Soil. Rich, organic and moisture retentive. Work compost through a garden bed, or use a quality potting mix in a pot that drains.

Water and feed. Keep the soil consistently moist from spring to autumn and never let a potted plant dry right out. Ease back through winter as growth slows. A liquid feed every four to six weeks in the warm months is plenty.

Pruning and division. Cut old or yellowed leaves at the base with a clean blade. Clumps thicken from offsets, which can be separated in spring to start new pots. Wear gloves, because the sap irritates skin.

What to expect when it arrives

This plant is supplied in 200mm pots, sold in packs of six, a useful quantity for a repeat planting along a shaded bed or a set of matched pots on a courtyard. Each one arrives as an established clump with several full sized leaves, not a young tube.

Large leaves can bruise or fold in transit and the outermost one may yellow within a fortnight, which is normal. Trim it away, water in well, and expect new leaves within four to six weeks. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to care for elephant ear plants
• Keeping indoor plants alive through the year
• Browse the wider tropical plant range
• Compare other plants for indoor positions

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The sap contains calcium oxalate, which is toxic to cats and dogs and causes drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting if chewed. Keep it out of reach of a pet that nibbles foliage.

Why are the lower leaves yellowing?

A single old leaf turning yellow is normal renewal. Several at once usually means the mix has dried out completely or, more often, that water is sitting in a pot without drainage.

How big will it get in a pot?

Around 1m tall and a little less across, slightly under its garden size. Repot every two to three years, or divide the clump, to keep it growing strongly.