Alocasia longiloba is one of the most widespread and most variable species in the genus, and that variability is exactly why collectors meet it under so many different names. Plants sold as 'Watsoniana', 'Lowii' and 'Pink Back' all belong here, alongside a growing number of variegated forms with their own trade names. This page sets out what defines the species, how to grow it well, and where to find every one of our collector guides within it.
What defines Alocasia longiloba
Alocasia longiloba Miq. has a native range that runs from Indochina through western and central Malesia, including Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Sulawesi. Across that range it varies considerably in leaf colour, texture and size, and for many years several of its regional forms were described as separate species.
Alistair Hay's 1998 revision of Alocasia in West Malesia and Sulawesi brought many of those names together under Alocasia longiloba. Names now treated as synonyms include Alocasia watsoniana, Alocasia lowii, Alocasia korthalsii, Alocasia putzeysii and Alocasia thibautiana. Current checklists, including Kew's Plants of the World Online, follow this treatment.
Leaf characters
- Sagittate blades: an arrow-shaped leaf, with a long forward lobe and two backward-pointing basal lobes. The name longiloba simply means long-lobed.
- Peltate attachment: the leaf stalk joins the blade shallowly to deeply inside its margin rather than at the edge.
- Contrasting veins: in many forms the main veins are picked out in a paler green or silver against a darker blade.
- Variable colour and texture: leaf surface, underside colour and overall size differ markedly between populations, which is why so many forms have been given names.
Trade names in the longiloba complex
Because the species is so variable, collectors still trade many of its forms under their own names. It helps to know which kind of name you are looking at:
- 'Watsoniana' and 'Lowii': both were once published as species names. Botanically they are now forms of Alocasia longiloba, but they remain in use as trade names for recognisable plants.
- 'Pink Back', 'Satun Stardust', 'Lime Lava' and 'Lava King Cobra': trade names for particular longiloba forms and variegated selections. None is a botanical species, and none is a formally registered cultivar.
Trade names are not always applied consistently between sellers, so the plant in front of you matters more than the label. Each of our guides describes the specific form we sell under that name.
Growing Alocasia longiloba
The fundamentals in our complete Alocasia care guide all apply. For longiloba and its named forms, a few points are worth drawing out:
- Light: bright, indirect light keeps the vein contrast and leaf colour at their best. Our guide to LED grow lights covers the darker UK months.
- Warmth and humidity: steady warmth and good humidity. Cold spells and dry air are the usual triggers for stalled growth.
- Substrate and watering: an open, free-draining mix that lets the upper layer dry slightly between waterings. We grow in our own pon mix, blended from the Soil Ninja range; the substrate guide explains the blend.
- Pests: keep an eye on the leaf undersides, especially in warm, dry conditions. Our pest patrol guide covers identification and treatment.
- Corms: longiloba forms produce corms, which are the main route for propagation alongside division of established plants. See our guides to sprouting times and the Corm Keeper and Corm Crown.
Variegated forms carry less chlorophyll and generally grow more slowly than the plain species. Give them the brighter end of the light range, short of direct sun.
Our Alocasia longiloba collector guides
| Name | Variegation type | Collector guide | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alocasia longiloba 'Lava King Cobra' | Variegated | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Lime Lava' | Variegated | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba Marble | Marble | Read the guide | In stock |
| Alocasia longiloba Mint | Mint | Read the guide | In stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Pink Back' | Pink | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Pink Back' Albo | Albo and pink | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Satun Stardust' | Variegated | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Watsoniana' Albo | Albo | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Watsoniana' Aurea | Aurea | Read the guide | In stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Watsoniana' Pink | Pink | Read the guide | Not currently in stock |
| Alocasia longiloba 'Watsoniana' Pink 'Doff' | Pink | Read the guide | In stock |
Also currently available within the complex, though not yet covered by a dedicated guide: Alocasia longiloba 'Lowii' Aurea and Alocasia longiloba 'Watsoniana' 'Lightning' Albo Pink.
For more on how albo, aurea and pink variegation differ in stability and care, see the complete guide to Alocasia variegation types.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alocasia watsoniana a separate species?
Not in current botanical treatment. Alocasia watsoniana has been treated as a synonym of Alocasia longiloba since Hay's 1998 revision. 'Watsoniana' remains in use as a trade name for a recognisable form.
What is Alocasia 'Pink Back'?
'Pink Back' is a trade name for a form of Alocasia longiloba, not a botanical species or a registered cultivar. As with many trade names, it is not always applied consistently, so buy on the plant rather than the label.
Is Alocasia lowii the same as Alocasia longiloba?
Botanically, yes. Alocasia lowii is treated as a synonym of Alocasia longiloba, and 'Lowii' is now best understood as a trade name for one of its forms.
How is Alocasia longiloba propagated?
Through corms and by dividing established plants. Corms can be started in a controlled set-up such as our Corm Keeper, and our guide to corms that will not sprout covers the common problems.
If you are looking for a particular longiloba form, or would like help identifying one already in your collection, get in touch. We are always happy to talk Alocasia.
From the nursery
