Skip to Content

Alocasia Flowers: 5 Common Questions Answered (with photos)

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.

Have you been curious to learn more about Alocasia flowers, and what it means when you see them? Technically, they would be considered an Alocasia inflorescence, and I’ll explain later in this concise, informative post. Keep reading to learn all about Alocasia flowers and see the answers to the most common questions that people typically have concerning blooming Alocasias.

alocasia-flowers

ALL ABOUT THE ALOCASIA FLOWER

1. WHAT DOES AN ALOCASIA FLOWER LOOK LIKE?

Technically, it is actually an inflorescence that you see on your Alocasia. Like all plants in the aroid (Araceae) plant family, Alocasias have a distinct inflorescence and they will all look pretty similar to each other.

In the illustrated photo below, the central, narrow structure in the middle is called the spadix, and the wider, green structure behind it is the spathe, which is technically a modified leaf. Below these two is an enlarged growth called the floral chamber.

In Alocasias, the female flowers are tiny and are hidden in the floral chamber, while the male flowers are on the upper part of the spadix. So while the majority of people call the spadix+spathe structure a flower, it is technically called an inflorescence.

The color, size and shape of the inflorescence will all vary a bit depending on the species of Alocasia, but they will all look fairly similar.

alocasia-flowers

It is important to understand the floral structure if you want to experiment with pollinating Alocasia.

2. IS IT RARE FOR ALOCASIA TO FLOWER INDOORS?

Contrary to what you may have read in many posts online, it is NOT rare that they flower indoors.

The word rare has been used very loosely when it comes to plants, and it is simply not true that they rarely flower indoors.

Although many plants ARE shy bloomers indoors, Alocasia really isn’t one of them.

I have witnessed many Alocasia plants bloom indoors, as well have received many messages from my excited readers when they have sent me photos of their Alocasia inflorescences, asking what they are.

Alocasias will bloom when they are happy, and also when they are stressed (and you should know by looking at your plant if it is stressed or not!). If your plant is blooming, it is not necessarily an indication that your plant is in tip top shape.

alocasia-flowers
An unopened Alocasia inflorescence on my Alocasia nebula

3. WHAT TO DO WHEN ALOCASIA FLOWERS?

You can do one of two things:

  1. Leave it and enjoy it (although they’re really not that interesting and we grow Alocasias for their foliage and not the flowers.
  2. Cut off the entire inflorescence.

4. SHOULD I LET MY ALOCASIA FLOWER?

I would recommend always cutting off your Alocasia inflorescences as soon as you spot them.

The reason is that your plant will expend energy sustaining that growth, and most of us would rather redirect the plant’s energy into foliage growth instead. It’s really that simple.

5. WHERE TO CUT ALOCASIA FLOWER?

Like I’m showing you in the photo below, take a pair of sharp, sterilized pruners and cut as low as you can on the inflorescence stalk.

where-to-cut-alocasia-flowers

Take a look at all the ones I cut off below all from the same plant and in different stages of development.

alocasia-flowers-inflorescence-life-cycle

At a bare minimum, to practice good hygiene, cut off the inflorescences after they are spent and don’t let them accumulate on your plant. It is best if you can cut them off as soon as you notice them though.

RELATED RESOURCES

I have many posts on my site on how to grow various Alocasia plants, but you may want to start with my post on Alocasia types to get familiar with all the beautiful varieties out there.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post on Alocasia flowers. Have any of your Alocasia bloomed? Comment below. I’d love to hear!

Cynthia Wickerham

Tuesday 5th of September 2023

I was very surprised to find a flower on my elephant ears. First time in 10 years of growing them. They are in a pot, so they may be crowded? I can’t bear to cut it off though.

Raffaele

Wednesday 6th of September 2023

If you haven't repotted in years, it may need a slightly bigger pot. If you enjoy the flower, leave it :-) Cut it off after it passes its prime.

Terrie Heffner

Thursday 10th of August 2023

What does the word spent mean regarding my Alocasia blooms?

Raffaele

Friday 11th of August 2023

Hi Terrie! It just means when the flower is at the end of its lifespan.

Nicole

Friday 23rd of June 2023

I have no idea what type of Alocasia I have. Originally it was unhappy and had a few yellow turned leaves so I moved it into the bathroom and it prefers the humidity. It’s grown a new leaf and now a flower. Should I cut this off to make sure my plant grows more leaves?

Raffaele

Sunday 25th of June 2023

Yes, definitely cut the flower off.

Vibha

Tuesday 13th of June 2023

Hi! Usually when a new leaf grows, it grows out of the stem of another leaf. I’ve got two flowers now, and probably because a lot of energy went into their growth, I had to cut off three yellow leaves. My question is: If I remove the stem of this flower, will I be hindering a new leaf to come out of it, or won’t it give me any leaves anyway?

I’ve got an Alocasia Frydek and it’s looking quite sad with just three leaves (one of them currently turning yellow slowly) and of course the two flowers.

I’m also new to plants, but couldn’t stop myself from getting this beautiful plant! Any advice or help would be much appreciated!

Raffaele

Thursday 15th of June 2023

Removing the flowers will not inhibit any leaf growth, so by all means, go ahead and cut the flowers off! Refer to my care post to help you out with general care :-)

Ariel

Wednesday 3rd of May 2023

My elephant ear keeps flowering and has been continuously flowering 1-2 flowers at a time indoors for the past 9 months. It is causing weird new growth for the new leaves as if the stems are folded in a sense causing them to be weak and also half the size of the original leaves before it ever started flowering.

Also when I am cutting the new flowers (so all the growth can go into the leaves) I can only cut to a certain point as they are growing from the inside where all the other stems are. This is causing the cut flower stems to grow moldy since I can’t cut them down farther in the plant where they arise from.

1. How do I stop my elephant ear from flowering since it’s been 9 month of continuous flowering and it’s affecting the new growth of the new leaves since it’s become crowded from all the cut flowered stems that can’t fully be removed?

2. How do I prevent the mold from occurring since there is a limit to how far down I can cut until the other stems begin to get in the way?

Thank you!!!! There is no info of how to stop it from flowering as well as the irregular growing with the extra stems from the flowers which when cut causes mold

Raffaele

Sunday 7th of May 2023

Hi Ariel! Do you know exactly what kind of Alocasia that you have? It would help to see photos. If you can message me through the contact form on my website, when I reply, you can attach some photos. That would help :-)