Happy Flower Pot

Alocasia (elephant ear)

Alocasia spp. (Araceae)

Also called Elephant's Ear.

Cats and dogs

Toxic to cats and dogs

Cats: toxic Dogs: toxic

What makes it toxic: Insoluble calcium oxalates.

Signs to watch for: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing

Source: ASPCA entry "Alocasia", checked October 3, 2026.

Light

  1. Low light 3+ mol
  2. Medium light 6+ mol Copes
  3. Bright indirect 10+ mol Best
  4. Direct sun 12+ mol

Grow it in bright but indirect light; strong direct sun can scorch the leaves. RHS says it survives lower light but grows much more slowly, and NC State notes too little light can cause yellowing leaves.

Direct sun: best kept out of it.

On our scale it grows well from about 10 mol/m²/day and holds on down to roughly 1.1 (how these numbers are set).

Will it grow in my window?

Care

Care level: Demanding. Water: Water once the top of the compost has dried, reduce watering in winter, and avoid overwatering, which leads to root rot and yellow leaves.

Likes warmth (above about 60 °F/16 °C) and medium to high humidity; prone to spider mites (RHS, NC State).

Pet-safe plants for similar light

Sources