Variegated Zebrina Alocasia

Leaf Detail Portrait

Alocasia zebrina 'Variegated'

Variegated Zebrina Alocasia

Quick Facts

growth HabitUpright clumping rosette
mature SizeMedium to Large (60-100 cm)
lightBright indirect light
humidityHigh humidity (65-80%)
temperature20-28°C
difficultyAdvanced
growth SpeedModerate
View Care Guide
Part of the Alocasia zebrina familyVariegated Sport£££ · RareLowVariegated mutation of Alocasia zebrina.

Morphology

leaf ShapeArrow-shaped, sagittateArrowhead-shaped leaves, with pointed lobes at the base pointing downwards.
leaf Length30-50 cm
leaf Width20-35 cm
petiole ColorStriped zebra-pattern (light and dark green bands)
venationProminent, disrupted by variegated sectors
textureSemi-glossy
variegationChimericVariegation caused by a cell mutation. Often produces high contrast but can be unstable and revert to all-green. (unstableVariegation that is prone to disappearing (reverting to solid green) if lighting conditions are poor or if not pruned.) yellow-white marbled sectoral variegation, clearly distinct from the plain green species — propagates true only from a cutting taken at a variegated node
growth HabitUpright clumping

About

Alocasia zebrina is already a striking species thanks to its tall, distinctively striped zebra-pattern petioles; the variegated form adds yellow-white marbled sectoral variegation across the arrow-shaped leaf blade on top of that. The combination of patterned stem and patterned leaf makes this one of the more visually complex Alocasia in cultivation. As a chimeric sport it needs strong, consistent light to sustain the reduced-chlorophyll variegated tissue, and propagates true only from cuttings taken at a variegated node.

Market Analysis

Auction History & Retail Data

Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.

No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.

Before You Buy

Shared checklist for Alocasia zebrina and its cultivated forms

  • Check the corm is firm — a soft or shrunken corm indicates dehydration or rot and is very difficult to recover
  • Verify there is at least one established leaf; avoid bare corms from unknown sellers unless you have experience germinating alocasia corms
  • Spider mites are the most common pest: inspect leaf undersides for fine webbing or stippling, especially in dry indoor environments
  • Alocasias can enter dormancy when stressed by shipping — a plant arriving with no leaves but a firm corm is not necessarily dead

Propagation Guide

Growing More Plants

Shared across every form of Alocasia zebrina — see this form's own Morphology for variegation-specific propagation notes.

Difficulty
Easy
Time to Establish

3-6 months

Wait for the mother plant to produce corms or pups before dividing. Larger, well-established plants produce offsets most readily. Alocasias do not propagate reliably from stem cuttings.

Care Guide

Growing Conditions

General care shared across all forms of Alocasia zebrina — cultivated forms may need brighter light or higher humidity than the plain species; check this form's Quick Facts above.

Substrate

Well-draining loamy mix: 40% potting compost, 30% perlite, 20% orchid bark, 10% worm castings. Alocasias need moisture retention unlike most aroids but still require good drainage.

Watering

Keep evenly moist during the growing season — never waterlogged, never bone dry. Check soil every 3–4 days in summer. Reduce significantly in winter when growth slows.

Humidity

60–80%. Lower humidity causes brown leaf edges; very low humidity combined with dry compost will trigger dormancy.

Fertilising

Balanced fertiliser at half strength every 2 weeks during spring and summer. Stop feeding in winter.

Repotting

Every 12–18 months in spring. Alocasias like being slightly snug in their pots — don't overpot.

Common Problems

Problem

Leaves yellowing and dropping

Cause

Overwatering, cold temperatures, or natural dormancy

Fix

Reduce watering; ensure temperatures stay above 16°C; dormancy is normal in winter

Problem

Brown leaf edges

Cause

Low humidity or irregular watering

Fix

Increase humidity and maintain consistent watering routine

Problem

Spider mites

Cause

Most common pest; thrive in hot, dry conditions

Fix

Mist regularly; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap; increase humidity

Retail Price?The average price across tracked UK retailers (nurseries and specialty stores).
Not tracked
Not currently stocked by tracked UK retailers
Market Trend?Calculated by comparing average auction sales from the past 30 days against the preceding 60 days.
Not enough history to calculate a trend

How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses online sold listings converted to GBP at current exchange rates, excluding extreme outliers to ensure a fair-value guide. Falls back to UK retail average when auction data is unavailable.