Hardy elephant ear
Alocasia × wentii
Also called Wentii, Purple umbrella and Hardy alocasia
Houseplant · AroidsTHE TOUGHEST ALOCASIA, and the only one worth trying in an ordinary room — it takes lower humidity and cooler nights than the rest. The leaf backs are bronze-purple, which is the quickest way to know one.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 5 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect, and it will take an hour of sun
- Feed
- Every 30 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 1 m tall · 0.9 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- A hybrid of New Guinea parents
Is it safe for pets and people?
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: an intensely burning mouth and tongue, drooling, vomiting and trouble swallowing, caused by calcium oxalate crystals.
ASPCA carries "Alocasia spp." as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and the RHS harmful A–Z carries "Alocasia" at category B — toxic if eaten, and a skin and eye irritant. Both name the genus outright, and B is the stronger of the RHS's two eaten-harm bands.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- Leaves dropping one by one through winter. It is the toughest alocasia sold and still rests below about 15°C — keep it dry and it comes back stronger.Dormancy in a cool room · disorder
- Drops of water at the leaf tips in the morning, sometimes leaving a white crust. The plant is pushing out excess water and is healthy; it usually means it has been watered a little heavily.Guttation mistaken for a problem · disorder