Alocasia amazonica ‘Polly’

As the nomenclature of this plant is still controversial today on the markets and in the literature in general, we have retained the name for practical purposes, even if the correct botanical name for this plant is alocase de Mortefontaine. In fact, the cross between long-lobed alocase and Sander’s alocase that led to the creation of this hybrid species was carried out in the late 1800s by the Chantrier brothers, at their establishment in the French village of Mortefontaine. Today, botanists are also leaning towards the similarity between the alocase we call Polly and the one called , which was named after a plant said to have been created in the 1950s by Salvador Mauro in his garden center called Amazon Nurseries. The ‘Polly’ selection would be smaller than the one called, which has no connection with Brazil. 130 years of controversy!!!

Alocase de Mortefontaine has dark green, arrow-shaped leaves with wavy margins and thick, white or silver veins. The underside of the leaf is brown, as is the leaf stalk. The plant can reach 50-60 cm in height. This selection can be grown outdoors, but is also ideal for indoors.