General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0)
Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 12-18 inches
Plant Spread: 12 inches
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Other: Glossy, deep green accented with attractive white to light green veining
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Flower Time: Summer
Other: Seasonal.
Underground structures: Rhizome
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Terrariums
Uses: Provides winter interest
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Humidity tolerant
Toxicity: Other: All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed
Other info: Remove seed from berry which contains chemicals that inhibit germination. Viability declines if seeds are allowed to dry. Soak overnight in distilled water and plant.
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Offsets
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Goes Dormant
Parentage: Sport of: Amazonica
Child plants: 3 child plants

Image
Common names
  • African Mask
  • Amazonian Elephant Ear
  • Elephant's Ear
Also sold as:
  • Alocasia x amazonica 'Poly'

Photo Gallery

Date: 2016-12-10
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Date: 2014-04-17
bought in 2009, grown indoors
Location: My home
Date: 2021-11-20
Birthday gift.
Location: Middle TN
Date: October 23, 2017
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2016-01-07
Alocasia Polly
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Date: 2021-01-25
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-11-19
Alocasia Polly leaves
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2015-11-19
Alocasia 'Polly' stems
Location: Beautiful Tennessee, Barn Nursery by permission 
Date: Dec. 12, 2014
pretty on backside
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2019-08-22
One of my favorite houseplants
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-06-06 
Alocasia Amazonica 'Poly'
Location: Fairfax, VA | July, 2022
Date: 2022-07-16
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2015-06-01
Location: Land O' Lakes, FL
Date: 2016-03-21
At Duncheon's Nursery
Location: Mobot, St L. (Missouri Botanical Garden)
Date: 2017-08-09
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Date: feb 2013 thru july 2014 
 sprouting 2yr bulbil; 8 yr old tubers vs 1yr old tubers; bulbils
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2012-05-07
bloom spike just emerging
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2012-05-07
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2015-06-01
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2015-06-01
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2015-06-01
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Location: My backyard.
Date: 2014-08-05
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Date: 2013-07-26
my 'poly' blooms every year, sometimes 2 inflorescences on one tu
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2010-02-13
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2010-02-13
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-23
Location: Land O' Lakes, FL
Date: 2016-03-21
At Duncheon's Nursery
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Jan 21, 2014 4:11 PM concerning plant:
    Discovered as a mutation of African Mask (Alocasia 'Amazonica'), at Silver Chrome Gardens, among tissue cultured liners in the 1980's. Shorter petioles, slower growth, and heavier leaf substance led the Rotolantes, owners of Silver Krome Gardens, to believe it was a polyploid form, hence the name 'Polly'. DNA testing indicates it is not polyploid.
    http://www.aroid.org/aroidl-ar...
Plant Events from our members
skylark On January 19, 2023 Entered Dormancy
1-2plants still have 1 leaf going, the rest dropped all.
skylark On September 13, 2021 Miscellaneous Event
put young corms on heat mat to sprout: did
skylark On April 21, 2019 Miscellaneous Event
put all smalls on heat mat to sprout
miv On February 2, 2019 Obtained plant
carlysuko On August 11, 2019 Bloomed
» Post your own event for this plant

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Elephant Ears (Alocasia) Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Elephant Ears (Alocasia) (Alocasia)

« The Elephant Ears (Alocasia) Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.