Types of Alocasia: 25 Different Alocasia Varieties

Alocasia is a miraculous plant that comes in colors ranging from silver to purple to red, and, of course, spectacular shades of green. They are a popular houseplant due to their low-maintenance nature, and their beautiful leaves. There are also many different types of alocasia, which can make picking one a bit tough!

Alocasia can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but it’s become more popular as a houseplant. While people still navigate to popular plants like the pothos or philodendron, more houseplant owners are looking for plants like alocasia to diversify their indoor gardens.

Whether you’re already obsessed with this plant genus or want to incorporate one into your plant collection, check out these 25 stunning alocasia varieties.

Alocasia melo

Alocasia melo has a striking appearance with its deep, dark, oval leaves, each with a distinct point at the end. The stems are thick and stocky, giving the plant an overall sturdy appearance. The leaves are dense and heavily textured, making for an interesting addition to your houseplant collection or garden.

The leaves can sometimes take on a bluish hue because they are so dark green. Many people will likely think this is a fake plant because of how thick the leaves are. They can sometimes look like plastic or cardboard.

Black Magic

If you want a unique and eye-catching addition to your plant collection, Alocasia infernalis is a striking option. Better known as the black magic plant, the leaves are a dark shade of purple, almost black, with an intense shine. Thick green veins run over the oval, pointed leaves.

This plant loves tropical weather, so keep it in a warm spot. It is small compared with other alocasia varieties, so don’t expect it to grow more than two feet in height. The leaves are big and long, creating an enticing appearance with interesting color and design. This variety needs a little less light and can survive in lower light conditions.

Black Velvet

The black velvet variety of alocasia is a stunning little plant. Considered a mini alocasia, it only grows to about one foot in height. The plant is appropriately named, as the leaves look and feel like velvet fabric, with tiny bristles all over them, creating a super soft texture.

The color isn’t quite black but usually dark green. The leaves are heart-shaped with white veins running over them, making for an outstanding contrast. To add to its appeal, it has a silvery green stem, which brings another unique color to the plant. Like the other varieties on this list, this alocasia is extremely easy to propagate.

Zebrina

It’s hard not to be mesmerized by this striking variety of alocasia. Alocasia zebrina goes by many names relating to its appearance, including nicknames like the zebra plant, the leopard alocasia, or the alocasia tiger. Once you see its striped and spotted pattern on the stem, you’ll understand why it gets so many animalistic nicknames.

The plant grows relatively tall, with pointy, heart-shaped leaves at the top of each branch. But the stem is the enticing part, as it is a soft shade of beige spotted and striped with dark brown, making it look exotic and beautiful.

Corazon

The corazon alocasia, sometimes called the blue metallic plant, is a variety best known for its shiny bluish-green leaves. The plant can usually only maintain two or three leaves at once, but they are large and noticeable in a sea of green plants.

It can grow to a massive 15 feet under the right tropical conditions, but you can expect it to reach around three feet in your home garden. Many home gardeners love how low-maintenance these plants are, and they bring diversity to your garden or plant collection.

Dragon Scale

Dragon scale alocasia is a mystical-looking plant, usually with one massive leaf on a stem. The leaf has a thick, almost puffy appearance. The odd shape and texture make it popular among those who love an unusual tropical plant.

These are pretty low-maintenance, so you can grow them in most gardens as long as you get enough humidity and sunlight. They also make for a beautiful indoor plant. If you’re struggling to get the humidity this plant needs, try placing it in the bathroom or somewhere that gets more moisture in the air.

Green Velvet

Despite its nickname, Alocasia ‘Frydek’ doesn’t have that fuzzy, velvet appearance. Nevertheless, people refer to it as green velvet because of the astonishing shade of green that colors its leaves. They are an incredibly vibrant green contrasted by pale cream-colored veins on each leaf.

The plant is rare, but gardeners find it to be relatively low maintenance as long as your zone is right. It has large, pointy leaves but an air of delicacy due to its thin, wispy stems and spacious appearance.

Giant Taro

Alocasia macrorrhizos is an exotic-looking plant that brings an aura of simplicity and sophistication to your garden. Known as the giant taro plant, this variety is not taro but has similar stems and leaves to the root vegetable.

The plant typically grows fast and to a large size, so make sure you give it plenty of space to flourish. The stems are long, and the leaves are pointy heart shapes that droop down casually. If you want something with a classic look, this lovely green plant is an excellent addition to your collection.

Hooded Dwarf

Also known as the Buddha hands plant, Alocasia cucullata is a fast-growing variety that will sprout in your garden in no time. It looks fairly standard, with heart-shaped green leaves and long stems. The most noticeable feature is that the leaves tend to grow to various sizes, creating a unique cascading appearance.

Because of the different-sized leaves, a well-grown hooded dwarf will start to look like a small, flourishing bush. It’s used as a topical medicine in some cultures, and in Laos and Thailand, the plant was often present in Buddhist temples, hence the nickname.

Jewel Alocasia

Jewel alocasia is one of the most popular varieties because it is super easy to take care of and not very difficult to find. Many of the leaves are green, but many will also take on a lustrous silvery-gray color.

Sometimes the veins take on a blue or purplish color, adding to the stunning palette of this plant. This variety appreciates high humidity, so make sure you keep the air moist if you keep it indoors.

Malaysian Monster

The Malaysian monster is a small and slow-growing plant. The name makes many think it grows rapidly and is quite large, but this isn’t usually the case. The leaf shape is a departure from the typical oval or heart-shaped leaves of alocasia varieties.

These leaves have jagged, long teeth and are narrow and skinny. They look more exotic than other alocasia varieties, making them a popular plant among gardeners who want something different.

Mask

Also known as the Kris plant or the African mask plant, Alocasia sanderiana is a stunning tropical species people love. It has dramatically large leaves with a dark green sheen. Thin white veins run over the leaves for a lovely contrast.

The leaves have a wavy edge but still maintain the general heart shape characteristic of alocasia. The stem is like a mini tree trunk, providing a super sturdy base for the large leaves and a tropical-looking plant.

Miri

This variety of alocasia is one of the most tropical-looking species. It has large, drooping leaves in the shape of a rounded arrow, making it a dramatic addition to your home or yard. The stems are thin and long, but support large dark green leaves you would expect to encounter in the jungle.

The leaves are thick and heavy with red hues on the underside. If you want something that will make a statement, this variety, sometimes called silver velvet, is a gorgeous option.

Night-scented Lily

The best feature of Alocasia odora is the coloring of the leaves. They are multicolored, with different shades of green and cream creating a pattern that makes the leaves look like an abstract oil painting.

The elephant-ear-shaped leaves are typically large and grow upward, making for an energetic and healthy appearance. They aren’t hard to keep healthy either, as this is a low-maintenance alocasia, especially when kept indoors. And yes, this alocasia has a lovely, subtle smell that will breathe some life into your home or garden.

Nigra

The nigra plant, also referred to as the black metallic taro, is a subtle monochromatic plant with a lovely dark green color. Both the stem and leaves are the same shade, making for a beautiful homogenous look. The plant can grow quite large, especially in height, so it thrives in outdoor gardens with plenty of space. It can also be a great plant to shade smaller plants around it.

The nigra loves shade, as direct sunlight can burn the leaves and dry out the soil. It particularly loves to be well-hydrated in moist, rich soil. Try not to keep this plant in too dry of a climate if you want it to grow well.

Pink Passion

Alocasia brancifolia, or ‘Pink Passion’, is rare at the moment, making it a sought-after plant. The leaves resemble elongated maple leaves with their pointed and scooped edges. They are a vivacious green with a smooth, silky texture.

Despite its rarity, the plant is extremely low-maintenance, making it a favorite of home gardeners. However, the leaves are extremely toxic, so keep pets away. The stems are a deep shade of brown, making the tiny plant look like a mini tree with massive leaves.

Polly Plant

The polly plant is probably the most common variety of alocasia. It is also one of the easiest to grow and care for. The plant is resilient and will put up with less-than-ideal conditions for a while before its health declines. It has a sturdy tree-like stem that holds up its exotic-looking leaves.

The leaves are a drastic dark green, silhouetted by bright white veins around the edges and running through the center. If you want something starkly different from the other light green plants in your garden, the polly plant is a beautiful addition that’s easy to find.

Purple Umbrella

The purple umbrella plant is not actually purple but does have a grayish underside that some may think looks purple in the sunlight. Sometimes the underside also has a reddish tint that makes it especially unique in the alocasia family.

The pointed, oval leaves flare upward, forming little bowls that catch the rain and direct it to the soil and roots. The stems are thick and green, growing very tall to hold up the cupped leaves. This plant does particularly well near a water source like a small pond, so if you have one in your backyard, it will thrive.

Red Secret

Alocasia cuprea has the most intricate and unusual color scheme of all the alocasia varieties. It can have fiery orange colors and red or purple undertones to the deep green leaves, making for an interesting plant because you never know what it will look like as it grows.

The leaves can be so dark that they’re almost black, featuring orange and red accents along the stem. They can grow to several inches in length or just a few centimeters, adding variety to the plant. The dark leaves create a dramatic look that will catch the attention of visitors and fellow plant lovers.

Samar

The Samar variety of alocasia has sharp, dagger-shaped leaves with a deep green color and gentle sheen. The embossed leaves grow out rather than up from their thin, tender stems. This simple plant will add some character to your garden, as despite its understated appearance, it is distinct from many other plants.

This variety is susceptible to pests and diseases, so it requires some extra care and attention to keep healthy. Because of this, it is typically easier to care for indoors where the elements are controlled.

Silver Dragon

Silver dragon is slightly different from the dragon scale variety of alocasia. These have a more silvery color to the leaves and typically sprout many more leaves than dragon scale. The leaves have a dark green and black shadowing effect, emphasized by silvery accents on the interior of the embossed leaves.

The veins are pronounced and typically a dark shade of green, giving the leaves the appearance of depth and texture. Despite growing considerably tall and large, they don’t require much soil space to flourish, as their roots don’t grow very deep.

Silver Plant

As its name suggests, Alocasia nebula has silvery leaves that look artificial to many. Like other rare alocasia varieties, the leaves are thick and sort of puffy, making them look inflated and unrealistic, but they’re all natural. While this plant can be tricky to find, it’s a breeze to take care of, as it doesn’t need a ton of light or water.

Under certain conditions, the leaves can be a grayish-blue color, which is stunning in a garden of green. If you love unique and rare plants, add this silver beauty to your must-have list.

Stingray

Stingray is a popular variety of alocasia because of its dramatic ornamental leaves that offer a dazzling appearance. It got its name from the wide, rounded leaves with a skinny tail at the end pointing toward the ground, reminiscent of a stingray.

If you want something unique in your home, this plant will wow your plant-loving friends and become a fixture in your space.

Tiger Taro

Tiger taro has beautiful leaves that are dark green with bright white or cream-colored veins, creating a distinct striped pattern. It gets its name from its bushy leaves and striped pattern, and it’s also one of the most resilient species.

Its leaves are its best feature, and with very little care, the plant will grow quickly and plentifully, adding volume and depth to your plant collection.

Yucatan Princess

Last on the list is a royal-looking type of alocasia known as the Yucatan Princess. The stems grow very high and hold their large leaves horizontally, creating a sort of umbrella. The leaves are very glossy and leather-like, similar to many alocasia varieties.

If you love alocasia with an exotic look, the Yucatan Princess delivers a tropical feeling you’ll be obsessed with. The plant is a beautiful decoration and requires moderate care to thrive.