Alocasia portei
Giant Dissected-leaf Alocasia
Typical UK price, 12cm pot
£19
Price by size
- Sold, 90 days
- 0
- Middle half
- -
- Last sold
- 22 Jun 2026
- On record
- 1
- Sale
- Typical
- Middle half
- Estimate
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About Alocasia portei
Alocasia portei is a massive Philippine species, one of the largest in the genus, capable of reaching 6-10 metres tall in ideal conditions with a thick, tree-like stem. Its deeply lobed, pinnatifid leaves can reach 1.5m long with crisped, wavy margins, a markedly different silhouette from the broad, undivided leaves of most other Alocasia species. Despite its large eventual size, it is anecdotally common and widespread across the Philippines, though formal botanical collections remain scarce given the difficulty of collecting such a large plant. It is one of the parent species behind the hybrid 'Portadora' (crossed with Alocasia odora).
Native range
Luzon, Philippines (humid tropical forest understory)
Classification
- Genus
- Alocasia
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Wild
- Growth habit
- Upright, thick-stemmed, tree-like with age
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- Deeply lobed, pinnatifidFoliage deeply lobed in a feather-like pattern, but not cut all the way to the central vein., crisped wavy margins
- Leaf length
- Up to 1.5m at full maturity outdoors
- Leaf width
- Proportionally broad, deeply cut into narrow lobes
- Petiole colour
- Thick, green, sheathing a stout stem
- Venation
- Bold central vein with radiating lobed divisions
- Texture
- Semi-glossy
- Variegation
- N/A: solid green leaf blade
- Growth habit
- Upright, thickening stem, tree-like with age
Recent UK sales
For sale in the UK
UK shops
| Shop | Stock | Checked | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of Kojo 17cm pot | Sold out | 19 Oct 2026 | £44 |
By month
| Month | Median | Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | £19 | 1 |
Before you buy
- Factor in eventual size; this is one of the largest Alocasia species and will need significant space as it matures
- Check the stem base is firm, not soft or discoloured
- Confirm the deeply lobed, pinnatifid leaf shape matches reference photos, as broad-leaved Alocasia species are sometimes mislabelled
Alocasia portei care
- Substrate
- Chunky, well-draining mix: 40% potting compost, 30% orchid bark, 20% perlite, 10% charcoal.
- Watering
- Keep consistently moist but not waterlogged; water when the top layer of substrate feels slightly dry.
- Humidity
- 65-85% for best leaf size, though it tolerates average humidity better than smaller jewel Alocasia species.
- Feeding
- Balanced liquid fertiliser at full strength every 2-3 weeks during the growing season; a fast, hungry grower once established.
- Repotting
- Annually while young and fast-growing, given its potential eventual size.
Common problems
Slow establishment after repotting
Cause: Root disturbance
Fix: Minimise root disturbance when repotting and keep humidity elevated afterward
Spider mites
Cause: Dry indoor air
Fix: Increase humidity and treat with insecticidal soap
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 portei
- Methods
- Offset (corm/pup), Rhizome division. Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Rewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
- Time to establish
- 3-6 months
- True from cuttings
- Yes. Cuttings keep the cultivar's character.
- Notes
- Produces offsets at the base once established. Given its eventual massive size, most collectors keep this species pruned/potted well short of its full outdoor potential.