The exotic African mask plant, also called Alocasia amazonica, loves a moist tropical environment whether it’s outside or in a pot indoors.
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The African Mask Plant, also known as Alocasia, is a tropical plant known for its large, vibrant leaves that resemble traditional African masks With its exotic good looks, the African Mask Plant is gaining popularity as an outdoor landscaping plant However, with several size varieties to choose from, it can be tricky to select the right one for your specific needs. In this article, we’ll explore tips for choosing the perfect African Mask Plant size for your landscape.
A Brief Overview of African Mask Plants
Native to tropical parts of Asia and Eastern Australia the African Mask Plant thrives in warm, humid environments. It gets its name from its uniquely shaped leaves that look like masks worn during African tribal rituals. The leaves come in various colors like green black, silver-gray, and purple with prominent white or yellow veins.
African Mask Plants are easy to grow as long as you replicate their native tropical habitat. They need bright, indirect sunlight, rich soil, frequent watering, and high humidity. With the right care, they deliver exotic flare to gardens with their lush foliage and fast growth rate.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Size
When shopping for an African Mask Plant, the first decision is what size to get. They come in small, medium, and large sizes that range from 1-6 feet tall. Consider the following factors when deciding on size:
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Your climate – African Mask Plants are tropical perennials not hardy below 50°F. In temperate climates, size determines whether you can overwinter them indoors. Smaller plants adapt better to being potted and moved inside.
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Your space – The plant’s ultimate height and spread will dictate how much space it needs. Make sure you have adequate space for it to grow.
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Your landscape needs – Do you want a focal point, border plant or filler? Bigger plants make dramatic statements. Compact ones work well in tight spaces.
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Growth rate – African Mask Plants grow quickly, gaining several feet in a single season. Remember bigger isn’t always better if you have limited space.
Size Options for African Mask Plants
Here is an overview of the various sizes of African Mask Plants available:
Small African Mask Plants
Height – Up to 2 feet
Ideal for – Tabletops, patios, accent plants
Benefits – Perfect for containers, easy to move indoors in winter
Small African Mask Plants feature dainty leaves less than 12 inches wide. Their compact size makes them suitable for containers indoors and out. Use them as accent plants in garden beds or to add pops of color to patios and decks. Their adaptable size makes them easy to overwinter by moving pots inside.
Medium African Mask Plants
Height – 2 to 4 feet
Ideal for – Flower beds, hedges, focal points
Benefits – Provides exotic flair to garden landscapes
With their lush tropical foliage, medium African Mask Plants are ideal statement pieces in garden beds and borders. Their 18 to 24 inch leaves command attention in the landscapes. They work well as focal points or planted en masse for vibrant hedges and living walls. Plant them in groups to create a tropical oasis.
Large African Mask Plants
Height – Over 5 feet
Ideal for – Dramatic focal points, commercial landscapes
Benefits – Makes a bold visual impact with huge leaves
Large African Mask Plants thrive when allowed ample space to spread out. Their substantial leaves measuring 3 to 4 feet add drama to gardens. Use mature plants as striking focal points in large landscapes. The large varieties are also a good choice for commercial settings like malls, business parks, and resorts. Their exotic flair transforms any space into a tropical paradise.
Caring for Your African Mask Plant
Once you’ve chosen the perfect size African Mask Plant for your needs, the next step is proper care. Here are some growing tips:
- Site in part sun away from intense afternoon sun
- Keep soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogging
- Maintain humidity levels above 50%
- Use well-draining, organic rich potting mix
- Fertilize monthly during the growing season
- Watch for pests like spider mites and scale
- Overwinter indoors below 50°F
With the right growing conditions, African Mask Plants will thrive, transforming your outdoor space with their bold, tropical flair.
Eye-Catching Alternatives
If you love the look of African Mask Plants but want to explore other options, consider these exotic alternatives:
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Elephant Ear Plant (Colocasia) – Features dramatic, heart-shaped leaves up to 5 feet long.
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Canna Lily – Produces lush, tropical looking foliage and showy flowers in summer.
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Banana Plant (Musa) – Adds a tropical vibe with huge paddle-shaped leaves.
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Caladium – Grown for its colorful, patterned leaves that combine white, pink, red, and green.
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Grasses like Pampas Grass – Add height, texture, and drama to gardens and borders.
Bring the Tropics Home with African Mask Plants
With their bold, sculptural foliage, African Mask Plants infuse gardens with exotic drama and interest. Their different size varieties make it possible to find the perfect fit for your specific landscape needs. Whether you want a small accent plant or a towering focal point, the African Mask Plant’s lush leaves will create a tropical oasis in any outdoor space. Just be sure to give them the warm, humid conditions they need to thrive.
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Good Alocasia amazonica plant care does require regular fertilization. This is a heavy feeder, and rich organic soil isn’t enough. Use a well-balanced fertilizer every month or a slow-release product every two months. You can stop fertilizing during winter.
African mask does not require a lot of pruning. Remove any faded or brown leaves by cutting them close to the soil or top of the corm.
You can propagate African mask plants by cuttings of stems in spring or by division in spring or summer. Some varieties have corms. When you pull them up, you will see small corms growing on the main structure. You can remove these to plant in another area. Rhizomatous varieties can simply be divided when pulled up in spring.
African Mask Plant Care
Alocasia amazonica care requires specific conditions. Because it comes from tropical regions of the globe, it is necessary to recreate important aspects of its natural environment in U.S. homes and gardens.
If you live in a zone that is warm enough, you can grow Alocasia outdoors in beds. If not, use it as an annual, bring it indoors for winter, or grow it as a houseplant.
Alocasias grow under taller plants in tropical conditions, so they do best in bright, indirect light or filtered partial shade. Direct sunlight can burn the foliage or fade leaf colors. A warm spot sheltered from wind and under a tree or other plants is ideal.
African mask has medium water needs. It prefers soil that stays evenly moist but not soggy. It will not tolerate conditions that are too dry. It will also not tolerate standing water, so the soil and bed or container should drain well. Reduce watering in winter.
Do not leave African mask plants outside when the temperatures dip below 60 or 65 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 18 Celsius). If growing the plant indoors as a houseplant, find a warm spot without cold drafts for this plant. Humid conditions are best, so use a pebble tray or spritz regularly with water.
Provide quality soil that is rich in organic material. If growing in a bed, dig compost or other material into the ground to enrich it. For potted plants, use a rich, soil-based mix. Non-soil mixes do not hold moisture. In terms of soil type, African mask is not particular and will tolerate different mixes as long as it drains well.
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FAQ
Where should I put my African mask plant?
How big does an African mask plant get?
Should I mist my African mask plant?
What kind of soil does African mask like?
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Hardiness
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10 – 12 What’s My Zone?
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Water Needs
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Average
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Soil Type
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Loam
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Soil pH
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Acid, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
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Moist but Well-Drained
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How big do African mask plants grow?
The African Mask Plant can grow quite big and would be better suited to rooms with ample space or high ceilings if you are aiming to allow this gorgeous houseplant to grow to its full potential. It can get as tall as1,5m indoors. The African Mask Plant can also be grown outside in ideal conditions.
Can African mask plants be grown outside?
The African Mask Plantcan also be grown outside in ideal conditions. When grown indoors, it will grow smaller than if outdoors. Keep your African Mask Plant moist at all times. However, you must avoid the soil being too soggy and the plant sitting in water constantly, as well as allowing the soil to dry out completely.
Do African mask plants need a lot of water?
African Mask Plant require moderate to frequent watering but not with a large volume of water at once. They don’t want their soil to dry out, but they also don’t want their roots to become waterlogged. This is why a little but often approach works best to ensure your plant continues to thrive.
Are African mask plants finicky?
Even with the ideal care, African mask plants can be finicky. The longer you grow them, the more likely you are to run into an issue or two. Here are my best tips for getting them back into good health. Yellow leaves on an African mask plant are typically caused by inconsistent watering.