Zebra plant (Alocasia)

The zebra-striped stems

Alocasia zebrina is a plant of the arum family, Araceae, grown worldwide as an ornamental. Its most distinctive feature is not the leaves but the long, upright petioles, striped in green and cream like a zebra's coat — hence the name. On these stems open large, glossy arrowhead-shaped leaves of an intense green. In Tagalog it is known as "gabing tigre".

Origin and habitat

It is endemic to several islands of the Philippines, including Luzon, Mindanao, Leyte and Samar, where it grows in the rainforest understorey. It is used to warmth, high humidity and light filtered by the canopy, without direct sun.

Cultivation

It loves bright but filtered light, a light, very airy mix made for aroids, and high ambient humidity. Water it regularly, keeping the mix just moist but never soggy: waterlogging rots the rhizome. It dislikes cold below 15 °C and draughts. The petioles tend to lean toward the light, so it helps to rotate the pot.

Warning: a toxic plant

Like all alocasias, it contains calcium oxalates and is toxic if eaten, causing irritation of the mouth and throat. Keep it away from children and pets and handle it with care.

Conservation

In the wild it is listed as a threatened species in the Philippines, and the collection of wild specimens is illegal. Plants on sale must come solely from controlled nursery propagation.