Full Specimen Plate
Alocasia princeps
Princeps Shield Alocasia
Aroid Atlas Price Guide
Select Plant Size
Pricing Data Key
Community price estimate based on limited sales history
Market Analysis
Alocasia princeps Price Guide & Auction Value
Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.
No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.
Before You Buy
Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing
- Check the corm is firm — a soft or shrunken corm indicates dehydration or rot and is very difficult to recover
- Verify there is at least one established leaf; avoid bare corms from unknown sellers unless you have experience germinating alocasia corms
- Spider mites are the most common pest: inspect leaf undersides for fine webbing or stippling, especially in dry indoor environments
- Alocasias can enter dormancy when stressed by shipping — a plant arriving with no leaves but a firm corm is not necessarily dead
Alocasia princeps Morphology
About Alocasia princeps
Alocasia princeps is a rare Alocasia species native to Borneo. It has erect, triangular, shield-shaped (sagittate) leaves with strongly undulated, wavy margins and deep purplish-green to copper undersides. The petioles are often mottled or striped. It grows from a central corm, forming an upright clump, and needs high humidity and bright indirect light.
Native Range
Borneo
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Alocasia princeps
Wait for the mother plant to produce corms or pups before dividing. Larger, well-established plants produce offsets most readily. Alocasias do not propagate reliably from stem cuttings.
Care Guide
Alocasia princeps Care Guide & Growing Conditions
Well-draining loamy mix: 40% potting compost, 30% perlite, 20% orchid bark, 10% worm castings. Alocasias need moisture retention unlike most aroids but still require good drainage.
Keep evenly moist during the growing season — never waterlogged, never bone dry. Check soil every 3–4 days in summer. Reduce significantly in winter when growth slows.
60–80%. Lower humidity causes brown leaf edges; very low humidity combined with dry compost will trigger dormancy.
Balanced fertiliser at half strength every 2 weeks during spring and summer. Stop feeding in winter.
Every 12–18 months in spring. Alocasias like being slightly snug in their pots — don't overpot.
Common Problems
Leaves yellowing and dropping
Overwatering, cold temperatures, or natural dormancy
Reduce watering; ensure temperatures stay above 16°C; dormancy is normal in winter
Brown leaf edges
Low humidity or irregular watering
Increase humidity and maintain consistent watering routine
Spider mites
Most common pest; thrive in hot, dry conditions
Mist regularly; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase humidity
The Undulating Prince
One finds oneself quite taken with *Alocasia princeps*, a recent introduction from Borneo by the indefatigable W. Bull. This rather handsome specimen, with its upright, architectural habit, certainly adds a certain gravitas to the glasshouse. The leaves are a most distinctive sagittate, almost triangular, with margins so strongly undulated they practically dance in the humid air—a charming adaptation to its tropical clime, one presumes. Beneath, a deep purplish-green often shades to copper, a subtle surprise. Its petioles, often beautifully mottled, lend further interest. Requires warmth and high humidity, mind, definately not one for a draughty British winter. Still, worth the trouble for such a regal, coriaceous presence.
