Alocasia sanderiana 'Nobilis'

Cultivated origin of Alocasia sanderiana 'Nobilis'

‘Nobilis’ is a named form of Alocasia sanderiana, a species found only on Mindanao in the Philippines. Wild plants grow in damp lowland ravines beneath the canopy of mature forest.

Growing Alocasia sanderiana ‘Nobilis’

Temperature: For ‘Nobilis’, maintain about 20–27 °C and prevent extended chilling below 16 °C.

Humidity: Keep relative humidity near 50–60% where practical. Keep the air reasonably humid while new leaves are opening.

Feeding: Use a restrained complete fertiliser dose during active leaf production; little or no feeding is needed when Alocasia sanderiana 'Nobilis' is resting.

Light: Filtered daylight or light shade suits the foliage. Protect it from prolonged intense sun.

Watering: During active growth, allow the pot to lose some moisture after watering, then rewater before the deeper mix becomes fully dry. Water thoroughly and leave the pot to drain before returning it to its usual position.

Potting mix: A loose, rich potting mix works well as long as excess water can leave the pot freely.

Stem position: Give the short creeping base room to extend; with age it may naturally lean or lie along the surface.

Space: Leave moderate room around the leaves so they can open without crowding.

Repotting: With ‘Nobilis’, the plant can stay in its current pot until the roots are crowded; then move it up one size.

Propagation: Choose an offset that has already rooted, then separate it with those roots attached. Give the offset its own container and steady warmth while fresh root and leaf growth begins.

Troubleshooting Alocasia sanderiana 'Nobilis'

• New leaves open silvered, scarred or distorted with tiny black specks: Inspect the still-folded new growth and the tight spots where each stalk meets the plant for thrips and fresh droppings. When thrips are confirmed, set the plant apart from the rest of the collection. Use a treatment labelled for thrips on indoor ornamental plants, and repeat it only as directed on the label.
• Fine pale speckles develop near the veins, followed by bronzing or webbing: Check the leaf undersides, especially around the main veins, for moving spider mites, eggs or fine webbing. After confirming mites, move this plant away from the rest and rinse both leaf surfaces where practical. Use a treatment labelled for spider mites on indoor ornamental plants, and repeat it only as directed on the label.
• Leaves droop or yellow even though the pot remains wet: Inspect the roots and lower stem for soft brown or foul-smelling tissue instead of watering again. Keep all firm roots and stem tissue. If clearly rotten tissue has to be removed, use a disinfected blade, keep every firm healthy section, clean the blade between cuts and discard the removed material. Repot the healthy roots and firm stem in fresh, airy mix and keep the plant warm during recovery.

Alocasia sanderiana ‘Nobilis’: 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.

Who sanderiana honours and what nobilis means

Sanderiana honours the German-born British nurseryman Henry Frederick Conrad Sander. Nobilis is Latin for “noble”, “distinguished” or “notable”.

William Bull described Alocasia sanderiana in his nursery catalogue in 1884, volume 199, page 11. The name Alocasia sanderiana var. nobilis first appeared in horticultural literature in 1893. ‘Nobilis’ remains common in trade as a horticultural name within Alocasia sanderiana.