Alocasia longiloba ‘Purple Prince’

Origin of Alocasia longiloba ‘Purple Prince’

‘Purple Prince’ comes from the Alocasia longiloba group, which ranges from mainland Southeast Asia into the western and central Malay Archipelago. Wild plants grow in rainforest, damp ravines and shallow soil around boulders and cliffs.

Growing Alocasia longiloba ‘Purple Prince’

• Repotting: Repot when the roots crowd the pot or the elongating rhizome needs more room. Keep the rhizome at its existing level in the fresh mix.
• Watering: Let the upper part of the mix begin to dry, then water again before the roots dry throughout. Give the root ball an even watering, followed by full drainage.
• Potting mix: Use a rich, loose mix that drains freely and does not pack down around the roots.
• Light: Filtered daylight or a bright shaded position suits the leaves; avoid sustained strong sun.
• Humidity: Keep moisture in the air around 60–80% for routine growth.
• Temperature: A stable 18–29 °C suits routine growth. Keep it out of cold areas when temperatures remain below 15 °C.
• Feeding: Feed at a moderate dose only while new leaves are actively developing; pause when growth slows.
• Propagation: Rooted offsets and firm corms are the practical propagation routes; establish each one separately in warm conditions.

Signs of trouble on Alocasia longiloba ‘Purple Prince’

• The number of leaves keeps falling instead of recovering: Losing an ageing leaf is normal when another one follows. If the plant continues to lose foliage, replacement growth stops or the next leaf is smaller, compare light and warmth with earlier conditions, check for pests and confirm that the roots and base remain firm.
• Drooping continues even though the pot is wet: Do not top it up with more water. Check the root system and lower base for hollow, soft or foul-smelling areas, and note whether the container has begun taking much longer to dry. Preserve firm tissue. If rot is present, use our root-rot guide.
• Tiny pale dots or wispy webbing appear on the leaves: Examine the undersides and follow the long main veins for spider mites. The deep purple leaf backs are normal; fresh feeding marks and moving mites are not. Keep ‘Purple Prince’ separate while using a treatment labelled for spider mites on indoor ornamental plants, repeating it according to the label.
• A still-unfolding leaf develops rough silver marks or black specks: Check along the full folded blade and where it meets the stalk for thrips. If you confirm them, isolate ‘Purple Prince’ and use a treatment labelled for thrips on indoor ornamental plants, repeating it according to the label. The thrips guide explains what to monitor next.

Alocasia longiloba ‘Purple Prince’: toxic if chewed

• Pets: This Alocasia is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep the plant and any cut pieces where pets cannot chew them.
• Children and handling: Keep it out of reach of children. Sap from damaged tissue can irritate skin and eyes, so wash your hands after pruning and avoid touching your face.
• Why it irritates: Alocasia tissue contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing or contact with sensitive tissue can cause immediate local irritation.
• Possible symptoms: Mouth exposure can cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, nausea or vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
• After exposure: For a pet, contact a veterinarian. For a person, remove any plant material from the mouth and rinse with water; seek medical or poison-control advice if symptoms are significant. Breathing difficulty or rapidly increasing swelling needs urgent medical attention.

The longiloba name in ‘Purple Prince’

The species element in ‘Purple Prince’ is longiloba, literally “long-lobed” from Latin longus and lobus.

Miquel’s description of Alocasia longiloba appeared in 1856 in Flora van Nederlandsch Indië, volume 3, page 207.