Alocasia Reginula – Black Velvet

If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, the striking Black Velvet is a great elephant ear variety for you. With its tiny, compact size, you can grow a Black Velvet anywhere. The leaves of Alocasia Reginula look velvet-like but are a little rough to touch. This Alocasia grows only up to 30-40cm tall. Black Velvet is the common name, but the leaves are actually a dark green color. Depending on the light, weather, and age, the leaves can be darker or brighter. If your plant doesn’t look just like the picture, give it a little time to grow up. Elephant ears’ attributes become more defined when they mature.

If you want to keep Alocasia Reginula happy, you must keep her in a very well aerated potting mix that dries out completely between waterings. The best mix would be very light on peat moss. but with addition of sand, perlite and bark. Water your Black Velvet deeply but infrequently. Alocasias are susceptible to root and basal rot infections especially when over-watered.

Alocasia is a genus of broad-leaved rhizomatous or tuberous perennial flowering plants from the family Araceae. There are 79 species native to tropical and subtropical Asia to Eastern Australia and widely cultivated elsewhere.