Species · genus Alocasia · Araceae
Zebra Plant
Alocasia zebrina Veitch ex J.Dix
Also known as: Zebra Alocasia · Elephant Ear · Zebra Elephant Ear · Tiger Taro
Cultivars of A. zebrina
The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.
No named cultivars catalogued under A. zebrina yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.
Guide
The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.
A Striped Arrowhead Aroid
Alocasia zebrina is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial grown chiefly as a houseplant, prized for glossy, arrow-shaped leaves held aloft on tall, patterned stems. It is a tough plant by Alocasia standards, and it will happily shed older leaves as part of its normal rhythm, making room for new growth rather than signalling distress.
Source: RHS
From the Philippine Understory
This species belongs to the arum family, Araceae, and its natural range lies in the Philippines. In cultivation it is placed among conservatory and greenhouse houseplants, reflecting the warmth it expects from its origins.
Source: RHS
Light, Water, and Warmth
Grow it indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost with added perlite, set in bright but indirect light, and water freely through the growing season with a general liquid feed every two to three weeks from spring to autumn. High humidity matters here, so standing the pot on a tray of moist gravel helps. In winter, ease off watering to a minimum and keep the plant above 15°C.
Source: RHS
Division, Cuttings, or Seed
Alocasia zebrina can be propagated by dividing the rhizome in spring or summer, by taking stem cuttings in spring, or by sowing seed at around 23°C as soon as it is ripe.
Source: RHS
The Zebra-Striped Stem
The plant earns its common names, zebra plant, leopard alocasia, or alocasia tiger, from the striking pattern on its stems: a soft beige ground marked with dark brown stripes and spots. Above this, pointed, heart-shaped to arrow-shaped leaves rise on long petioles, giving the whole plant an exotic, upright bearing rather than a sprawling one.
Source: Epic Gardening
Mites and Mealybugs
The plant may be troubled by glasshouse red spider mite or by mealybugs, so it is worth checking the undersides of leaves and leaf joints for early signs of either.
Source: RHS
Little Pruning Needed
No routine pruning is required for this plant, and it is generally free of disease. What upkeep it does need centres on the seasonal care rhythm: steady feeding and moisture in the growing months, a marked pullback in watering and a warmer minimum in winter.
Source: RHS
Care recipe
The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.
Care notes are early — not yet verified
- Light
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Water
- ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 7-12d)
- Humidity
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Soil
- ai:claude-fable-5
- Care
- ai:claude-fable-5
Bright, indirect
≈ every 12 days
High
18–29 °C
Airy, fast-draining aroid mix with bark and perlite
Divide rhizome offsets when repotting
Light balanced feed monthly through the growing season
Moderate
Rarely flowers indoors; grown for its striped petioles
Toxic to cats & dogs & humans
Araceae contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate mouth, throat, and digestive tract if chewed. This is where toxicity lives: every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.
Reference images
Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.
PrimarySources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 7-12d) · ai:claude-fable-5 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (family inference)
Kept true by its growers
Every fact here carries its source. Grow Zebra Plant yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — and a clear photo of your plant are exactly what keep this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.
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