Licensed identification photographPlant Guide
Alocasia Polly
Alocasia × mortfontanensis 'Polly'
Other known names: African Mask · Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'
A compact elephant ear with glossy arrowhead leaves.
Published source-backed guide. This guide meets Lorekeeper's published source, care-completeness, safety, and identity checks. It is source-backed, not an expert-review claim.
Toxic. Contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals; keep out of chewing reach.
Care
- Light
- Bright indirect light.
- Water
- Keep lightly moist while allowing air in the root zone.
- Growing medium
- A moisture-retentive but airy tropical mix.
- Feeding
- Feed lightly during active growth.
- Temperature
- 65–85°F
- Humidity
- High humidity with airflow.
- When to consider watering
- Use the plant, roots, growing medium, pot weight, and recent conditions together. A calendar is a reminder to observe, not an instruction to water automatically.
- Watering method
- Check below the surface. If care is needed, water the full root zone and allow excess water to drain rather than giving repeated small sips.
- Repotting
- Repot when root condition, drainage, or stability shows a need. Increase pot size modestly and avoid burying the crown or stem more deeply than before.
- Pruning
- Remove damaged or fully spent tissue with clean tools. Avoid cutting healthy variegated or developing leaves only to change appearance.
- Beginner note
- Start with stable light and careful observation. Do not create an automatic task until the plant has been observed in its actual home.
Observe the plant and growing medium before acting. A reminder is a prompt to check, not an automatic instruction to water.
Characteristics
A compact elephant ear with glossy arrowhead leaves.
Names & botanical identity
- Accepted name
- Alocasia × mortfontanensis 'Polly'
- Plant family
- Araceae
- Plant group
- Alocasia
- Cultivar
- Polly
- Other known names
- African Mask · Alocasia × amazonica 'Polly'
- Safety
- Toxic
Contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals; keep out of chewing reach.
Growth
- Growth habit
- Compact upright elephant ear with seasonal growth changes.
- Mature size
- 1-4 ft tall and 1-2 ft wide as a houseplant; Polly is commonly up to about 2 ft
- Native range
- Cultivated Alocasia hybrid.
- Temperature
- 65–85°F
- Humidity
- High humidity with airflow.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Propagation
Divide rooted offsets or corms.
When you add a propagation to Lorekeeper, connect it to the mother plant so its history and lineage remain intact.
Problems to recognize
These links describe possible or look-alike relationships, not a diagnosis. Start with visible evidence and rule out alternatives.
- Spider mites: Leaf undersides and petiole bases should be checked frequently.
- Crown or stem-base rot: A soft crown or petiole base needs prompt isolation and inspection.
History & lineage
Polly is a compact cultivated form commonly sold under the African Mask name.
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Keep the useful part
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