Alocasia Amazonica 'African Mask Plant' Polly - Various Sizes

Ed's Plant Shop

Size
$34.99
Taxes, discounts and shipping calculated at checkout.

Description

The Exotic Jewel of Houseplants

The Alocasia Amazonica, commonly known as the African Mask Plant or Elephant Ear, is cherished for its stunning, deep green leaves with striking white veins. This exotic beauty can transform any indoor space with its dramatic foliage and unique form, making it a favorite among plant enthusiasts.


Plant Profile

  • Botanical Name: Alocasia Amazonica
  • Pronunciation: a·luh·kei·zhuh a·muh·zaa·nuh·kuh
  • Common Names: African Mask Plant, Amazon Elephant's Ear, Alocasia Polly, Amazon Taro
  • Family: Araceae
  • Native Range: This plant is a cultivated hybrid; it's parent species are native to Southeast Asia, particularly from tropical rainforests in the Philippines and Borneo.

Caring for Alocasia Amazonica

  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Light: Prefers bright, indirect light; avoid direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn.
  • Water: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged; allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. We find the most common issues for this houseplant involve under or over-watering and lack of adequate airflow. During the winter months, scale back on watering.
  • Humidity: Thrives in high humidity environments, ideally 60% or higher.
  • Temperature: Optimal temperature range is 55-80°F; protect from cold drafts.
  • Pruning: Prune as needed to remove dead or yellowing leaves and to maintain plant shape.
  • Feeding: Fertilize with a diluted, half-strength balanced fertilizer monthly during the growing season (spring and summer).
  • Growth Habit: Upright growth; can reach heights of 2-3 feet. Hardy specimens usually do not require support. Plant may become dormant during the winter months or when exposed to cold and lose it's leaves; this is normal.
  • Propagation: Best propagated through root division in spring or early summer.
  • Pests: Watch for common pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and aphids.
  • Toxicity: Toxic to humans and pets if ingested causing mouth and throat irritation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. May cause skin irritation; handle with care.

Fun Fact: Alocasia Amazonica Isn’t Actually From the Amazon!

Despite its name, Alocasia Amazonica is not a native of the Amazon rainforest. It’s actually a hybrid plant, created by crossing Alocasia longiloba and Alocasia sanderiana. The name was likely inspired by the exotic allure of the Amazon rather than its true origin.


The History of Alocasia Amazonica: A Cultivar Born in the 1950s

The Alocasia Amazonica first emerged in the 1950s, developed by Salvadore Mauro, a Florida-based plant breeder. Mauro wanted to create a show-stopping houseplant that combined the best traits of its parent species. Since then, the plant has gained immense popularity due to its stunning foliage and has become a staple in many indoor gardens.

Want More Info About How To Keep Your 'Polly' Alocasia Healthy? 

Ensure your Alocasia flourishes with our Expert Alocasia Care Guide, packed with essential tips on watering, light needs, and keeping those stunning leaves healthy year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping

How do you ship your plants?

We carefully package each plant with love by hand right from our shop in Brooklyn. Extra steps are taken to ensure that every leaf arrives in pristine shape by using polyfill and encapsulating the plant in a protective paper sleeve. The soil is also hydrated before shipping so that the plant has plenty of water for it's travel to your doorstep. We offer several shipping speeds, so please choose the one that you feel comfortable with depending on your location. 

Will my plant look like the one on the website?

Awesome question, we're glad you asked. Given the nature of our plant shop, we're constantly moving plants in and out of the shop, making it difficult and borderline impossible to keep an exact picture of each plant. In addition to the constantly rotating crop, we often grow in batches of 6, 12, or sometimes more! With this quantity we are unable to take a photo of each and every plant. The photos that we attach to each product listing is going to be of a plant that represents the average size and fullness of that set of plants. Some may be slightly larger or smaller, but in general, similar.

Do you include heat packs with your plants?

We offer Heat Packs for sale separately from the plants in 40, 60 and 72 hour increments. Please add a heat pack or two to your order if you live in an area where your order may be affected during transit by cold temperatures. We are not responsible for orders that are placed and damage is incurred to the plant if a heat pack is not purchased.

Which heat pack should I choose?

Heat packs come in three different increments, so please choose the appropriate hour increment depending on the speed of shipping that you choose during checkout. For example, if you choose a cheaper shipping option that will take longer, please select the 72 hour heat pack. If you've chosen a shorter method of shipping, the 40 or 60 hour increment would work! We like to encourage our customers to always get more than you need, just to be on the safe side!

How long will it take to receive my order?

Standard shipping normally takes 3-5 days. Next day shipping is available on all domestic orders (for an additional charge). International shipping times depend on the products and destination (estimated at checkout).

Do you offer express shipping?

All orders are shipped 5-8 business days from the date it is placed. Please note that as a small plant shop, we do everything in our power to get orders out as fast as we can in the order that they come in. If you have circumstances that require expedited fulfillment, please connect with you and we can potentially offer options. 

What countries do you ship to?

We ship our selection of rare, healthy, and unique houseplants all across the United States including California. At this time, due to customs and agricultural limitations, we are unable to ship plants internationally from the United States.

Returns and Refunds

How do I return a product?

Items must be returned within 30 days after receiving your order. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received, be unworn/unused, have any tags still attached, and include all the original packaging.

How long will it take to receive my refund?

Refunds are processed within 7 days from when we receive the item(s).

What should I do if my plant arrives in poor shape? 

In the extremely unlikely event that your plant arrives in less than perfect condition, you're covered by our 15-day plant health guarantee. Simply snap a photo of your plant and send it over to us. We'll happily take a peek and offer suggestions on how to perk it back up, offer a store credit, or send a replacement. We like to make it as easy as possible!

Can I return or exchange a plant?

At this time, we do not accept returns on plants. In extreme circumstances where a return of a plant is necessary, the customer is responsible for the return shipping and a refund will only be issued if the plant arrives back to us in living condition.