Alocasia chaii

Alocasia Chaii

Wild SpeciesRare Species
£££ · RareLowBorneo (Sarawak)
Alocasia Chaii

Morphology

leaf ShapeNarrowly ovate to lanceolate
leaf Length20-30 cm
leaf Width10-15 cm
petiole ColorDeep maroon to purple
venationPronounced central and lateral veins
textureThick, heavily bullate and strongly textured
variegationNone
growth HabitSelf-heading, compact

About

Alocasia chaii is a compact, self-heading aroid species naturally found in the wet tropical forests of Borneo, specifically Sarawak. It thrives terrestrially or lithophytically on rainforest floors, rocky slopes, or limestone outcrops, preferring deep humus, high humidity, and filtered light. This species forms a basal corm from which erect, slightly arching petioles, deep maroon to purple in color, emerge. Its distinctive leaves are thick, heavily bullate, and strongly textured, ranging from narrowly ovate to lanceolate with pronounced central and lateral veins. The upper surface is a glossy dark green, contrasting with the deep maroon to purple undersides, giving the plant a rugged, sculptural, and jewel-like appearance.

Climate Profile

OriginBorneo (Sarawak)
HumidityHigh (70-80%)
TemperatureWarm (18-30°C / 65-85°F)
LightFiltered bright indirect
FamilyAraceae
GenusAlocasia

Market Analysis

Price Guide & Market Data

Historical auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.

AA PriceEstimate
£80 – £300
No price data — rarity tier shown above
Retail Price
Not tracked
Not currently stocked by tracked UK retailers
Market Trend
Price direction over the last 90 days

How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses verified eBay UK completed auction data — we take the trimmed mean (removing the top and bottom 20% of prices) to produce a fair-value guide. When recent auction data is unavailable, the AA Price falls back to the current UK retail average. All prices are in GBP and updated automatically.

No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.

Field Notes · Vol. 115 March 2015

A Rather Compact Character

Right then, *Alocasia chaii*. Not a cuppa, though one often yearns for a proper brew whilst slogging through the Bornean undergrowth! This splendidly compact, self-heading aroid, formally described by the venerable P.C. Boyce, is a true Bornean marvel from Sarawak. We found it thriving either terrestrially or lithophytically on limestone outcrops, preferring deep humus and filtered light – rather sensible of it. Its deep maroon petioles support leaves that are, quite frankly, a marvel: thick, heavily bullate, and a glossy dark green above, contrasting rather strikingly with the deep maroon undersides. A rugged, jewel-like thing. Almost makes one forget the perpetual drizzle back home.

Written at AroidAtlas research station— Aroid Aaron

Quick Facts

growth HabitCompact, self-heading
mature SizeMedium (up to 60cm tall)
lightFiltered bright indirect
humidityHigh (70-80%)
temperatureWarm (18-30°C / 65-85°F)
difficultyModerate
growth SpeedModerate
View Care Guide
Find on Etsy UK