Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Buy 4 plants, get 1 free
Araceae
Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem'
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
VAT included · plus
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
Secure shipping, carefully packed orders with safe delivery across the EU, UK and Switzerland.
28-day plant guarantee, if a plant arrives damaged or fails soon after delivery, we help you make it right.
Free returns, simple, cost-free returns according to our policy.
For full details, please see:
Please head to our FAQ Page or Contact us.
Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem'
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when ~20–35% dry
Substrate
Chunky aroid mix • airy • moisture-retentive • fast-draining
Temperature
Ideal: 20–28 °C • Avoid below: 16 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright clumping herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 180 cm • Max. spread: 80 cm
Toxicity & safety
Toxic
Origin & habitat
Cultivar of Alocasia zebrina; species native to Philippines
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust 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 indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- 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 zebrina 'Black Stem'
Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem' is sold as a dark-petioled form of Alocasia zebrina, with glossy green arrow-shaped leaves on burgundy, dark brown or near-black petioles. It shares the upright corm-based growth of the species, but the darker stems give the plant a different look from the usual pale striped zebrina forms.
The leaves are narrow and sagittate, with pointed front lobes and longer rear lobes. They are smooth, glossy and green, without heavy patterning. Petiole colour varies between individual plants and often darkens as growth matures. Some plants show deep burgundy tones, while others develop chocolate-brown to almost black petioles. Unlike standard Alocasia zebrina, where the striped pattern is usually the main focal point, the darker petioles make the stems more prominent and give mature plants a darker, heavier-looking structure.
Features of Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem'
- Leaf shape: glossy sagittate green leaves with pointed lobes.
- Petioles: burgundy, dark brown, espresso or near-black tones, depending on maturity and individual plant.
- Growth habit: upright corm-based growth with long petioles.
- Colour note: young plants may show lighter petioles before darker colour develops.
- Status: best treated as a horticultural trade name for a dark-petioled zebrina form, not as a documented species.
Care for Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem'
- Light: provide bright indirect light for firm growth. Gentle morning sun can suit acclimated plants, but strong midday sun can mark the leaves.
- Water: water thoroughly, then let the upper part of the mix dry before watering again. The corm needs moisture followed by airflow, not constant wetness.
- Substrate: use a loose aroid mix with bark, pumice or perlite, coco fibre and a smaller moisture-retentive fraction. The lower pot should not stay soggy.
- Humidity: 60–80% humidity supports cleaner leaf edges and steadier new growth. Dry air combined with heat can cause browning.
- Temperature: keep it warm at 20–28 °C. Cold, damp conditions can stress the corm quickly.
- Feeding: feed lightly during active growth with diluted complete fertiliser. Good growing conditions support firmer petioles, but light does not create black stems.
- Potting: use a stable pot setup as the petioles lengthen. A heavy outer pot can help balance the plant while the inner pot drains freely.
- Propagation: separate only firm offsets or corms with active growth. Young plants may not show their darkest petiole colour immediately.
Common issues with Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem'
- Soft base: usually means the corm has stayed too wet without enough air in the substrate.
- Pale or weak new petioles: can result from low light, immature growth or a weak root system.
- Yellowing leaves: may follow repotting, transport, cold exposure or root stress.
- Brown edges: dry air, heat stress or fertiliser salts can mark the glossy leaves.
- Pests: spider mites, thrips and mealybugs can hide in petiole sheaths and folded new leaves.
Origin and name
Alocasia zebrina is native to the Philippines, where it grows in warm, humid rainforest conditions. The name 'Black Stem' is generally used as a horticultural trade designation for darker petiole colour rather than a formally documented botanical cultivar history. The plant remains connected to Alocasia zebrina through its corm-based growth, sagittate leaves and long petioles.
Plant safety
Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem' contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals in the leaves, petioles and corm. If plant tissue is eaten or gets into the mouth, it can irritate the lips, tongue, mouth and throat, with drooling, swelling, vomiting or swallowing difficulty possible. Keep it away from pets and children, and wash hands after pruning, repotting or division.
Quick facts
- Botanical name: Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem'
- Family: Araceae
- Species background: Alocasia zebrina, native to the Philippines
- Growth type: corm-forming Alocasia
- Best for: growers who want zebrina-type growth with darker petioles
Choose Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem' if you want the upright growth and glossy leaves of zebrina with darker, more prominent petioles.
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 zebrina 'Black Stem'
Sale price€37,50
FAQs about Alocasia zebrina 'Black Stem' – darker look, size, and collector appeal
Not sure which Alocasia to choose?
Recently viewed:
Sign up for Foliage Factory newsletter for early access to new arrivals and practical care tips that work in real homes.