Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) Alocasia odora
Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) (Alocasia odora) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Araceae family, native to Eastern Himalaya, southern China, Taiwan, southern Japan and Indochina. It grows 1–2.5 m (3.3–8.2 ft) tall and 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and high water, and is hardy to about -4 °C (25 °F). Space plants about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart.
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Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) at a glance
| Type | Perennial flowering plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Mature height | 1–2.5 m (3.3–8.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.2 m (3.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -4 °C (25 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 104–156 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Eastern Himalaya, southern China, Taiwan, southern Japan and Indochina |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇻🇳 Vietnam, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇮🇳 India, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: all parts, sap
Contains needle-like calcium oxalate crystals: chewing it causes burning, swelling and drooling in people, cats and dogs; the sap can irritate skin.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and high water.
Questions about Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear)
- How far apart should I plant Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear)?
- About 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).
- Does Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear)?
- It tolerates about -4 °C (25 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) flower?
- About 104–156 weeks after planting, for 3–6 weeks.
- Is Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Contains needle-like calcium oxalate crystals: chewing it causes burning, swelling and drooling in people, cats and dogs; the sap can irritate skin.
- What grows well with Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Night-scented lily (giant upright elephant ear). Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Huge, upward-pointing, wavy-edged leaves on thick stems, and creamy spathes that release a sweet scent at night. Hardier than most elephant ears: the roots survive light frost under mulch, so it is used for jungle effects in sheltered temperate gardens. Not edible like taro.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Taro Colocasia esculenta
- Calla lily (arum lily) Zantedeschia aethiopica
- Caladium (angel wings) Caladium bicolor
- Lacy tree philodendron Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
- Swiss cheese plant Monstera deliciosa
- Giant taro (elephant ear) Alocasia macrorrhizos
- Flamingo flower Anthurium andraeanum
- Tannia (malanga, yautía, cocoyam) Xanthosoma sagittifolium