Alocasia is also known by the common name elephant's ear. These popular houseplants get their common name because of the enormous heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves they produce from tuberous rhizomes. Many species in the genus are prized for their prominent veins or variegation.
These fast-growing, statement-making, tropical aroid species naturally grow large leaves to soak up the sun under rainforest canopies. You can grow alocasia outdoors, but they need warm and humid conditions that mimic their native habitats, that's why it's best to grow them in homes that can offer the temperatures and filtered light they need to thrive. Some enthusiasts move their alocasia houseplants outdoors during the warmer months and move them indoors when temperatures drop.
