Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Lutea'
Golden Elephant Ear
Typical UK price
£21
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 0
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- 21 Jun 2026
- On record
- 1
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
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About Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Lutea'
Lutea is a colour selection of Alocasia macrorrhizos with bold golden-yellow petioles and leaf veins, a colour that intensifies to a near-neon gold as the plant matures. It shares the species' huge, heart-shaped leaves and vigorous, upright growth, easily reaching several metres tall given the space.
Native range
Cultivated colour selection of Alocasia macrorrhizos.
Classification
- Genus
- Alocasia
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Cultivar
- Growth habit
- Upright clumping, rhizomatous
- Form of
- Alocasia macrorrhizos
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- Large, arrow/heart-shaped
- Leaf length
- 40-90 cm
- Leaf width
- 30-70 cm
- Petiole colour
- Bold golden-yellow
- Venation
- Bold golden-yellow veins
- Texture
- Semi-glossy
- Variegation
- N/A: solid colour form; golden-yellow petioles and veins over a green blade
- Growth habit
- Upright clumping
Recent UK sales
For sale in the UK
By month
| Month | Median | Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | £21 | 1 |
Before you buy
- The plain green species is inexpensive and widely available, so be wary of inflated prices for unnamed 'giant Alocasia' listings
- For 'Ivory Coast' or 'Variegated' forms, confirm the variegation pattern in photos matches the named form, as labelling is inconsistent in this group
- Check the corm/root ball is firm; this species is generally rot-resistant but still vulnerable in waterlogged substrate
- Factor in eventual size; this is one of the largest commonly available Alocasia species and will outgrow a small pot within a year or two
Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Lutea' care
- Substrate
- Rich, well-draining mix: 40% potting compost, 30% orchid bark, 20% perlite, 10% horticultural charcoal. Tolerant of denser mixes than most Alocasia given its vigour.
- Watering
- Water thoroughly when the top few centimetres of substrate dry out. This species is thirstier and more forgiving of consistent moisture than most jewel Alocasias; avoid letting it dry out completely for long.
- Humidity
- 50-70% for lush growth, though it tolerates average household humidity better than most Alocasia species.
- Feeding
- Balanced liquid fertiliser at full strength every 2-3 weeks during the growing season; this is a hungry, fast-growing plant.
- Repotting
- Annually while young, given its rapid growth rate; every 2 years once mature and sized to its final container.
Common problems
Yellowing lower leaves
Cause: Natural leaf turnover as the plant grows, older leaves are shed as new ones emerge
Fix: Remove spent leaves at the base; only investigate further if multiple leaves yellow at once
Reversion to green on variegated forms
Cause: Insufficient light causing the plant to favour chlorophyll-rich green tissue
Fix: Increase light levels and prune reverted all-green growth points to encourage variegated growth to dominate
Spider mites
Cause: Dry indoor air, especially over winter
Fix: Increase humidity and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil at first sign of stippling
Gear for this plant
- Flowers of Sulphur, 99.99% PurityDusted onto a fresh corm or rhizome cut to guard against rot before repotting.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Digital Hygrometer & ThermometerLCD humidity and temperature gauge for checking a grow spot against a plant's target range.
How to propagate Alocasia macrorrhizos 'Lutea'
- Methods
- Rhizome division, Offset (corm/pup). Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Easy. Forgiving of missed waterings, average home humidity, and imperfect light. A solid pick for beginners or low-fuss collections.
- Time to establish
- 2-3 months
- True from cuttings
- Yes. Cuttings keep the cultivar's character.
- Notes
- Mature plants readily produce basal offsets that can be divided once independently rooted. The plain species propagates vigorously and reliably; the variegated and Ivory Coast forms are markedly slower and more prone to reverting or stalling if divided too early.