Close view of an Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ leaf with dark green, cream and mint marbling.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plant with one dark marbled leaf and one lime-mottled leaf in a terracotta nursery pot.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ in a 9 cm pot, with pale cream-and-mint leaves above a terracotta nursery pot.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ in a 9 cm pot, with a green-marbled centre leaf and pale outer leaves.

Small Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ in a 9 cm pot, with three pale cream-and-mint leaves.

Three Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plants showing dark, lime and cream variegation in terracotta pots.

Side view of Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ in a 9 cm pot, with pale mottled leaves and a small emerging leaf.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ in a 9 cm pot, with two pale mottled leaves and a small dark green leaf.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plant with a bright lime-mottled front leaf and two darker leaves.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plant with a cream-marbled front leaf beside two darker green leaves.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plant with lime, silver-green and dark leaves in a terracotta pot.

Close view of a cream-centred Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ leaf with green marbling and a dark border.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plant with an upright lime-mottled leaf and two dark marbled leaves.

Three Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ baby plants viewed from above with dark and pale variegation.

Araceae

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

Black Velvet Elephant Ear

5 for 4

Mint and cream mingle with lime and near-black sections across the foliage of ‘Ninja Tricolor’. Beneath the changing colour, the leaves remain thick and strongly rippled, often with a pale line close to the edge.

Read full guide to Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

€45,75

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Choose a size

Baby · XS Pot Ø 6 cm · approx. 15 cm tall S Pot Ø 9 cm · approx. 15 cm tall

Variant

Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

Light

Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux

Watering

Water when ~40–60% dry

Substrate

Aerated • Moisture-buffered • Balanced organic + mineral • Medium

Temperature

Ideal: 18–29 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C

Humidity

High 60–80% +

Growth habit

Upright clumping herbaceous perennial.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Slow

Cultivated size guide

Height: 45 cm • Spread: 45 cm

Origin & habitat

Variegated form of Alocasia reginula; species likely native to Borneo

Outdoor growing

Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.

For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

A low, slow-growing form keeps several heavily textured leaves close together. Pale veins sit deep in the surface, leaving rounded raised sections between them. A second light line often traces the margin.

The colouring ranges from fine marbling to broad irregular areas of cream, mint, lime and deep green. One leaf may open mostly pale and another mostly dark, creating a varied mix across the compact plant.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ features

Colours: Cream, mint, lime and deep green.
Pattern: Fine marbling, irregular patches and broad colour sections.
Texture: Thick leaves with strong rippling between pressed veins.
Margin: An additional light outline commonly follows the leaf edge.

Origin & background

Cultivated form and natural origin of Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

‘Ninja Tricolor’ is a cultivated form of Alocasia reginula. The species is believed to originate on Borneo, although its precise wild locality and habitat remain undocumented.

Plant care

Care for Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

Light: Give it bright, filtered daylight and introduce mild direct sun gradually.
Humidity: Target roughly 60–80% in the growing area.
Watering: Water as the upper part of the mix starts to dry while moisture remains deeper in the root ball. Water thoroughly, let the pot drain and empty collected water.
Potting mix: Use a loose mix that stays slightly moist while retaining plenty of air around the roots.
Temperature: During active growth, keep it at about 18–29 °C and away from cold windows or draughts; temperatures should remain above 15 °C.
Feeding: Use a complete houseplant fertiliser at a low to moderate rate while new leaves are growing. Reduce or pause feeding as growth slows.
Propagation: Separate a rooted offset with as much of its root system as possible, pot it separately and keep it warm while it establishes.
Repotting: Increase pot size when roots or rooted offsets crowd the container. Refresh the mix when it has become compacted or drainage has slowed.

Issues & solutions

Common problems with Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

Cream or blush areas develop dry brown patches: If mainly the palest parts turn brown, the plant may be getting direct sun or repeatedly becoming too wet and then too dry. Move the plant away from strong direct light and make watering more even. Avoid removing partly healthy leaves just because the pale sections are marked. See our variegated houseplant guide for more detail.
A new leaf stays rolled, emerges scarred or opens misshapen: Inspect the unfolding leaf, leaf stem and undersides for mites or thrips. If pests are present, isolate the plant and use a treatment labelled for the identified pest on indoor ornamental plants, following the label for repeat timing. If the plant is pest-free, leave the leaf to open by itself and keep moisture, warmth and humidity steady rather than pulling it free.
The base of the leaf stem softens or healthy leaves begin collapsing while the mix remains wet: Inspect the roots and base of the plant immediately. Cut away any soft, rotten or foul-smelling parts with a clean, disinfected blade, disinfecting it again between cuts. Discard the removed rotten material. Repot the remaining firm, healthy part of the plant in fresh, freely draining mix. See our root rot guide if the damage is extensive.
Several leaves yellow or begin to droop together: Check the root ball before adding more water. A heavy, wet pot points towards excess moisture and root stress, while a very light, dry pot suggests the plant has gone too long without water. Correct the moisture problem you find and keep conditions steady rather than watering on a fixed schedule.

Safety

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’: toxic if chewed

Children and pets: Keep the plant and cut pieces out of reach of children, cats and dogs. Its sap can irritate skin and eyes; wash your hands after pruning and avoid touching your face.
Why it irritates and symptoms: Alocasia contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing can cause immediate burning pain, drooling, mouth or throat swelling, nausea, vomiting or difficulty swallowing.
After exposure: Contact a veterinarian if a pet chews the plant. For a person, remove plant material from the mouth, rinse with water and seek medical or poison-control advice for significant symptoms. Breathing difficulties or rapidly increasing swelling need emergency care.

Names & etymology

The name behind ‘Ninja Tricolor’

The reginula part of the name means “little queen”, a diminutive formed from Latin regina, “queen”. Alistair Hay described Alocasia reginula in 1998 in Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore, volume 50, page 258.

Horticultural use includes ‘Black Ninja’ from around 2020 as well as the names ‘Black Velvet Ninja’ and ‘Ninja’ for this line.

Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.

Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

€45,75

FAQs about Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’

Why is a young Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ so pale?

Very young leaves can be dominated by cream, white, lime and mint. Later foliage may develop the dark green to near-black ground seen on more established plants, while the balance still varies from leaf to leaf.

How should I water Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ without keeping the corm too wet?

Let roughly 40 to 60% of the fine, airy medium dry, then water thoroughly and drain. Keep water from collecting around the crown and reduce the frequency whenever the pot dries more slowly.

Can Alocasia reginula ‘Ninja Tricolor’ recover after losing all its leaves?

A firm corm can remain viable after stress or a resting period. Keep it warm, use water sparingly while growth is absent and inspect promptly if the corm becomes soft or develops an unpleasant smell.

Not sure which Alocasia to choose?

Our Alocasia plant guide compares size groups, indoor behaviour, care basics, common problems and propagation, so you can choose the right plant with more confidence.