Alocasia plumbea 'Metallica' (Elephants ear, metallic taro)

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Plant description

Alocasia plumbea 'Metallica' is a perennial tuberous tropical foliage plant. It has striking large leaves of a metallic deep green-black colour, with prominent purple veins on the leaf undersides. Mature leaves are decoratively puckered and wavy. It forms a large clump to 1.5 metres tall and wide, and is very fast growing in good conditions. It will grow in full sun to deep shade, but prefers a filtered light position. It likes a rich, well drained soil, with frequent good watering. It is reasonably frost tolerant, and may die down when the temperature drops too low. It will reshoot when the weather warms. If the air is too dry it can make the plant more susceptible to pests such as red spider mite. 

The plant can be an irritant to the skin and if ingested.

Additional plant information

Flowers

Flower colour: not specified
Flowering season: not specified

Plant size

Maximum height: 1.5 metres
Minimum height: 1 metres

Maximum width: 1.5 metres
Minimum width: not specified

Sunlight, frost & salt tolerance

This plant will tolerate full or partial sunlight.
Medium frost tolerance.
Plant is not salt tolerant.

Fauna attracting?

Not specified.

Climate

This plant species will grow in the following climates: temperate, subtropical, tropical.

Soil types & conditions

Loam: wet, moist.

Clay: moist.

Sand: moist.

Pests

Red spider mites

Miscellaneous information

Planting season: Any.

Types of fertiliser: Half strength liquid fertiliser applied through the warmer months.

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