We put some plants in our garden, not for the flowers, but the downright spectacular foliage that comes with them. Alocasia, Caladium, and Colocasia, all considered part of the Elephant Ear family, most certainly fall into this category.
I like to think of flowers as the icing on a cake. While flowers are undoubtedly beautiful, they only make up around 10% of your garden, just like icing on a cake. But, the other parts of your landscape like shrubs, trees, groundcover, and the leaves on your plants are what give your garden substance and balance.
While they do produce flowers (and berries!), that’s not why we grow them. Alocasia, Caladium, and Colocasia are all grown for their downright spectacular foliage. The sheer size of their leaves seems to be straight out of a fairytale.
They do have some fairly distinct differences, but to the less familiar eye, if you had an Alocasia, Caladium, and Colocasia all planted near each other, it may be a bit of a challenge to identify which is which.
Alocasia and Colocasia plants are two types of popular houseplants that are often confused with each other due to their visual similarity However, despite their overlapping characteristics, they are distinct plant species with some notable differences. In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between Alocasia and Colocasia to help you better understand and care for these beautiful plants
Appearance and Growth Habits
At a glance, Alocasia and Colocasia plants look very comparable – both have large, arrowhead-shaped leaves that have led to them being called “elephant ears.” However, a closer inspection reveals some clear visual differences:
- Alocasia leaves point upward and stand horizontally, while Colocasia leaves point downward.
- Alocasia leaves have a thick, waxy, and glossy texture. Colocasia leaves have a more matte texture.
- Alocasia plants are smaller, reaching 2-6 feet in height on average. Colocasia are larger, typically growing 3-10 feet tall.
- The petioles (stems attaching the leaves) differ – Alocasia petioles extend into the leaves, while Colocasia petioles connect below notches in the leaves.
Both types grow rapidly as tuberous tropical perennials but Colocasia varieties tend to have a faster growth rate than Alocasia.
Origins and Regions
Alocasia and Colocasia plants trace their origins to different regions
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Alocasia naturally occurs in tropical and subtropical Asia and Eastern Australia. There are 79 species originating from these regions.
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Colocasia is native to parts of southeastern Asia and India. It is thought that there are around 15 species originating from these areas.
Both are chosen as ornamental houseplants for their lush, tropical foliage. However, Colocasia is also cultivated as an edible crop known as taro.
Care Requirements
While Alocasia and Colocasia thrive in warm, humid environments, they have slightly different care needs:
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Alocasia prefers partial to full sunlight, while Colocasia does best in full sun.
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Alocasia requires high moisture but less watering in winter. Colocasia needs almost aquatic conditions year-round.
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Alocasia thrives in well-draining soil. Colocasia tolerates wet, boggy soil better.
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Water quality also differs – Colocasia tolerates hard water while Alocasia does best with distilled, filtered, or rain water.
Getting these factors right is key to keeping each plant happy and healthy.
Toxicity
An important difference between Alocasia and Colocasia is that Alocasia contains calcium oxalate crystals that make the plant toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Colocasia tubers are edible and a food staple in some tropical regions.
So if you have pets or children, take caution with Alocasia and keep it out of reach to prevent accidental poisoning. Colocasia is safer for homes with kids and animals.
Tuber Differences
As mentioned above, both Alocasia and Colocasia grow from an underground tuber rather than seeds. However, the tubers differ in appearance:
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Colocasia tubers are large and swollen with ring-like stripes.
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Alocasia tubers are smaller and narrower without striping.
These tubers allow the plants to survive through dormancy periods and regrow year after year.
Key Identification Points
To quickly tell whether you have an Alocasia vs Colocasia, look for these distinguishing features:
Alocasia
- Leaves point up
- Glossy, waxy leaves
- Smaller stature
- Toxic if eaten
- Narrow, plain tuber
Colocasia
- Leaves point down
- Matte textured leaves
- Larger stature
- Edible tuber
- Large ringed tuber
Once you know what to look for, differentiating these lookalike plants is easy. Keeping their unique care needs in mind will help you grow lush, healthy Alocasia and Colocasia specimens indoors. Their stunning tropical foliage will add drama and interest to any indoor garden.
Similarities Between Alocasia, Caladium & Colocasia
Before we dive into the differences between the three, we thought we might give you a bit of a primer on the features that these three beautiful plants share.
Alocasia, Caladium, and Colocasia are all shade-tolerant, and they all like to grow in moist soil. Each of them has arrow-shaped (rather large) leaves, boast similar-looking flowers, and they are all critter-resistant.
All three of these tropical Aroids also prefer to stay dry when dormant (or as I like to say, they like to sleep in a dry bed), and they are all heavy feeders, which means they need a nice soft, rich bed of compost to grow.
The differences between Alocasia and Colocasia – Elephant Ears
FAQ
How to tell the difference between Colocasia and Alocasia?
The best way to distinguish them is by feel. Alocasias look and feel much stiffer like plastic or cardboard whearas colocasias are more flowy and flexible with softer and thinner leaves. You can bend and crumple the leaves and they will bounce Bach to their original shape.
Can you grow Colocasia indoors?
Yes, Colocasia (also known as elephant ear plants) can be grown indoors. They are a popular choice for houseplants, especially for those seeking a tropical aesthetic.
Can you cross Alocasia and Colocasia?
Colocasia species will rarely cross with other colocasia species and supposedly with alocasia.
Is taro Alocasia or Colocasia?
Taro | |
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Genus: | Colocasia |
Species: | C. esculenta |
Binomial name | |
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott |