Alocasia odora aka Asian Taro

Alocasia odora belongs to the arum family, Araceae. This evergreen perennial lives for more than one year. It forms clumps of large leaves from rhizomes. Its home range runs from eastern India to southern Japan and Borneo. It comes from wet parts of the tropics. In the wild, it grows in rain forests and bamboo thickets. It also grows in swamps, beside rivers, and on limestone sites. Gardeners grow it for its bold leaves.

The RHS gives a garden height of 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres]. It gives the same range for the spread. Useful Tropical Plants lists a shorter height: 2 feet [0.6 metres]. The glossy green leaf blades reach 4 feet [1.2 metres] long. Their veins are pale green. Upright leaf stalks can also reach 4 feet [1.2 metres]. The leaves are peltate: their stalks join beneath the blade. Plants may have pale green flowers in summer. The spadix, the spike that bears flowers, can warm as its pollen matures. This heat adds to the scent, which draws insects that pollinate flowers.

Give plants bright light indoors, but keep them out of direct sun. Useful Tropical Plants also advises part shade. Use a rich growing mix that drains well but stays moist. The RHS suggests peat-free compost for houseplants, with perlite added. Give ample water in spring and summer; cut back in winter. Feed every two to three weeks from spring through autumn. The plant also needs high air humidity. A tray of damp pebbles beneath the pot can help. Keep plants above 59°F [15°C]. The RHS rates the species H1A. In Britain, it needs glass cover all year.

Its large leaves suit greenhouses and conservatories. They also suit sheltered displays in subtropical areas. The RHS lists city gardens and courtyard gardens as possible sites. Plants reach full size in about two to five years. They need no routine pruning. Divide the rhizomes to make more plants. You can also use fresh ripe seed, with warmth near 73°F [23°C]. Watch for mealybugs and glasshouse red spider mites. The RHS reports few disease problems.

All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals. Every part is poisonous if eaten raw. Contact can also irritate skin and eyes. The RHS warns of risks to pets too. Wear gloves when you handle the plant. Useful Tropical Plants records corms as food in parts of India. It stresses the need to cook them well. This record does not mean they are safe raw. The same source records past uses of rhizomes as medicine. People used them for stomach problems. They also applied them to bites and abscesses. These records do not prove that home treatments work or are safe.