Alocasia sanderiana 'Nobilis'

Natural habitat of Alocasia sanderiana

‘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. Indoors, use filtered light with warm, humid air. Keep an open mix evenly moist and let it drain readily.

How to grow and care for Alocasia sanderiana ‘Nobilis’

• Light: Provide bright, filtered light. Protect the deeply divided leaves from intense direct sun.
• Watering: Keep the root zone consistently moist during active growth. Water when the surface begins to dry and reduce the frequency as growth slows.
• Humidity: Maintain 60–80% humidity. Stable humidity helps the narrow leaf lobes remain in better condition.
• Temperature: Provide steady warmth and protect the plant from cold draughts.
• Substrate: Use an open, humus-rich mixture containing coir-based potting mix, bark and perlite or pumice. The mixture should drain promptly and retain gentle moisture.
• Feeding: Apply a dilute complete fertiliser during active growth. Reduce feeding during slower seasonal growth.
• Handling: Move the plant carefully because the narrow leaf lobes can catch on nearby objects. Support the petiole close to its base when repositioning the plant.
• Pest checks: Inspect the divided foliage regularly for spider mites and thrips.
• Repotting: Use the smallest pot that comfortably fits the roots and creeping stem. Position the active growing point above the substrate with room to continue across the surface.
• Propagation: Propagate from rooted offsets, cormels or divisions of the creeping rhizome. Each division needs a viable growth point and enough rhizome tissue to establish.

Problems and solutions for Alocasia sanderiana ‘Nobilis’

• Deeply wavy or partly divided margins: This is normal for Alocasia sanderiana, and the depth of the lobes can vary. Fresh ragged wounds, browning tear lines or damage confined to one emerging leaf point to rubbing or a problem during unfurling. Give new leaves clearance, keep moisture steady and allow caught tissue to release naturally.
• New leaves open silvered, scarred or distorted, with black specks: Thrips can feed inside the rolled blade before it expands. Inspect the sheaths and new growth. When inspection confirms thrips, move the plant away from others and repeat a labelled treatment. See the thrips guide for timing and identification.
• Fine pale speckles develop near veins, followed by bronzing or webbing: Check the purple-toned underside for moving mites, eggs or fine webbing. Once spider mites are confirmed, rinse both leaf surfaces and repeat a houseplant treatment labelled for mites.
• Leaves droop or yellow even though the pot remains wet: Inspect the roots and creeping stem for soft brown tissue. Remove decay, repot the healthy roots and firm stem in fresh coarse mix, and keep the root zone warm and airy during recovery. Follow the root rot guide.

Alocasia sanderiana ‘Nobilis’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Alocasia sanderiana and the name ‘Nobilis’

Alocasia combines the Greek prefix a-, meaning “without” or “lacking”, with Colocasia, the name of a related aroid genus.

The formal botanical citation is Alocasia (Schott) G.Don. George Don established the genus at that rank in 1839 in Hortus Britannicus, edition 3, page 631.

The epithet sanderiana honours German-born British nurseryman Henry Frederick Conrad Sander. 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 but is not accepted as a separate cultivar.