Adelonema wallisii ‘Emerald Gem’

Where the species behind Adelonema wallisii ‘Emerald Gem’ grows naturally

Adelonema wallisii occurs naturally from Costa Rica through Panama into Colombia, where it grows in warm, wet tropical habitats. Its low, clumping growth keeps the leaves in filtered light and the roots in moderately moist ground with open air spaces.

Care for Adelonema wallisii ‘Emerald Gem’

• Light: Provide medium to bright filtered light. Introduce gentle morning sun gradually.
• Warmth and humidity: Keep temperatures around 18–27 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Aim for 50–60% humidity. Protect the compact crown from cold draughts and direct heating.
• Watering rhythm: Water when the upper layer begins to dry and keep the deeper mix lightly moist during active growth. Drain the pot fully.
• Potting mix: Use an airy aroid mix that holds some moisture with bark and coarse material.
• Feeding: Apply a dilute balanced fertiliser while fresh leaves are developing.
• Repotting: Repot after roots and shoots from the base crowd the pot, keeping the crown at its existing depth.

Troubleshooting Adelonema wallisii ‘Emerald Gem’

The crown becomes loose and open: The plant may be receiving too little light. Move it closer to bright filtered light; new growth should become more compact.

Leaves near the base turn yellow: A single firm, oldest leaf may be ageing naturally. Several yellow leaves or soft petioles indicate that the substrate and roots need checking.

Cottony insects hide between the petioles: Mealybugs may be established in the compact crown. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects and repeat a suitable treatment as directed on the product label.

Adelonema wallisii ‘Emerald Gem’ 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.

Adelonema wallisii: name and meaning

Adelonema combines the Greek adelos, hidden or obscure, with nema, thread. The epithet wallisii honours the German plant collector Gustav Wallis.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Adelonema in 1860 in Prodromus Systematis Aroidearum, page 316.

Eduard August von Regel first described it as Homalomena wallisii in 1877 in Gartenflora, volume 26, page 33. Sin Yeng Wong and Thomas Bernard Croat later placed it in Adelonema as Adelonema wallisii in 2016 in Systematic Botany, volume 41, page 43.