Alocasia reginula
black velvet alocasia
Overview
Alocasia reginula is the black velvet Alocasia — among the darkest Alocasia and houseplants in existence, growing just 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) tall and wide. Almost black velvety matte rounded-heart leaves with silvery-white veining — the contrast of near-black velvet against bright silver veins is a high-contrast color pairing rare in the plant world. The 'reginula' means 'little queen' — a miniature royalty. The black color comes from extreme anthocyanin concentration absorbing nearly all visible light. The velvet matte texture (same as 'Frydek' but BLACK) absorbs rather than reflects light, making the darkness even more intense. Native to Borneo. The smallest common Alocasia — true desktop/shelf scale. Same demanding care: humidity 50%+ (the velvet surface is humidity-dependent), bright indirect light, potential winter dormancy. Overwatering is the most common killer — the compact corm rots easily. Toxic.
Native Range
Alocasia reginula is native to Borneo (Sabah).Suggested Uses
Used as a miniature jewel Alocasia for desktops and shelves. The darkest houseplant foliage. The black-and-silver contrast. The 'little queen' of Borneo. Leaf shine products are avoided.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'
Width/Spread8" - 1'
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Rare indoors. The black velvet foliage with silver veins is the year-round display.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White spadix with purple spathe (rare indoors)Foliage Description
Almost BLACK velvety matte leaves with silvery-white veining — the darkest, boldly colored AlocasiaGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Bright indirect light. Humidity 50%+ essential. Keep evenly moist but avoid overwatering (corm rot is the #1 killer). Leaf shine products are avoided. Miniature. Toxic.Pruning
Yellowing leaves are removed at the base.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons