7.10.2009

Fab Foliage Friday



Like an arrow pointed to the sky, Alocasia 'Sarian' aims for the heights. And it gets there. This awesome elephant ear reaches anywhere from 4- to 8-feet tall, with the leaves accounting for about half that size. The upright, arrowhead-shaped leaves look a lot like the better-known but harder-to-grow (for me anyway) elephant ear 'African Mask' (Alocasia x amazonica 'African Mask'), only bigger and greener. I grow these guys in a pot, so the dramatic effect they create is a portable one. Anywhere I need a quick blast of drama, it's ready and willing to provide a touch of magic.

4 comments:

Carol said...

Steve what cool foliage! I love the texture and movement in those leaves... though nothing quite like what is there... your elephant ears remind me of North Hill ... you must know it... Joe and Wayne have some large leafy creatures growing there ... but in the ground. Wish I could remember what they are. Your plant must be growing in a very large pot... hard to move around! Beautiful photo... as always.

Steve Silk said...

Hi Carol--They maybe grow butterbur (Petasites japonicus), it has huge leaves, I'd say the biggest of any plant easily hardy in these parts. Seems I've heard a rumor they grew gunnera, the undisputed king of big leaves; if so they must have come up with some way to protect it, as its hardy only to zone 7.

Big pots are easy to move with handtruck. Saves a lot of wear and tear on the back.

Carol said...

Sweet Coltsfoot... sounds like a good thug to join my gardens! Thanks Steve! I did imagine you with a hand truck.

Steve Silk said...

Carol-Sometimes a hand truck is the only way to fly.