Purple Sword
Kiersten Rankel
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.
4.9 out of 5 (7 experiences)
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
About Purple Sword
Alocasias, commonly known as Elephant Ears, are some of the most common houseplants although their leaves can reach enormous sizes when grown outdoors! 🐘 They typically only support a few leaves at a time (more, when they get more sun!) so don't be concerned if you see an old leaf begin to retire after a new one emerges. They grow out of underground corms which are similar to bulbs, so next time you repot keep an eye out for baby Alocasias! They contain calcium oxalate crystals so be sure to keep them out of reach if you have children or pets! ⚠️
Taxonomy
Alocasia lauterbachiana
Alocasia
Araceae
Alismatales
Also known as
Elephant Ears, Alocasia Shuttlecock, Alocasia Purple Sword, Alocasia, Alocasia 'Purple Sword', baroque sword, Purple Sword Alocasia, Alocasia Lauterbachiana., Alocasia lauterbachiana.. and Mythic Alocasia
How to care for Purple Sword
How often to water your Purple Sword
every 9
Purple Sword needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Purple Sword in your home
a window
Purple Sword may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Purple Sword in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Purple Sword
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Purple Sword after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
-
Why is my plant sad?? Just recently bought from a local plant store and he was BEAUTIFUL. He started yellowing a few days after I brought him home, originally was about a foot away from my s facing window and lower than the window so indirect light. Since he was yellowing I moved him to this plant stand just a little farther away but it seems like he’s getting worse. I just threw some leca into the catch pot and added a little bit of water for some additional humidity but my other alos seem to be happy without it. #PurpleSword #AlocasiaAddicts
-
So this is what my purple sword has become 🥲 it used to be so beautiful but it was infested with bugs. I had to remove many leaves. I did treat it and there seems to be no bugs anymore can anyone give me tips for this plant? 😫
-
Why is my purple sword getting yellow leafs but grows a new one? Hey can anyone tell me what I’m am doing wrong? My purple sword was doing so well until recently I have had two leaves turn yellow I removed one a while ago and a new leaf started to sprout after in the middle but now another leaf has turned yellow as you can see in the pic! It is also getting more droopy what am I doing wrong?! :(
-
Why are the tips of my purple sword wet and mushy? It’s been dripping excess water for a few days and the tips are now mushy. Help! I love my “Demi.” #PurpleSword
-
What does this plant need for maximizing happiness. #PurpleSword
-
Too many happy new leaves to count #FreshLeafFriday #NewGrowth #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict
-
Anyone have an idea what’s happening to my purple sword? This is the second leaf to turn yellow. It’s not in direct light and I water when told to. So sad looking. 😔
-
#HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #PlantShelfie #PlantHaul #RescuePlants #GregGang I had to get a bigger table 😅 there’s still the zygos to be added in here and now I need to figure out the bonsais 🤔
-
Ok guys, I’m getting new species that I’m absolutely not familiar with… I now have philodendrons, syngonium, an alocasia, calathea and ctenanthe. My problem is fungal sprays etc. they will be sharing space with my carnivores although the delicate DERPS will be in terrariums mostly. My concern is that things like the alocasia could really do with something like Neem oil. Problem is Neem oil can interfere with insects natural processes and what if my carnivores eat a Neem oil covered bug??? I can’t imagine that’s healthy but all the googling tells me is don’t use Neem oil on carnivores…. Anyone know any other things I can use for fungal and insect control? That are actually effective but safe to be near carnivorous plants?? This isn’t even a thing I have to deal with for my carnivores 😝 I’m worried I won’t be able to have a shared room and need to keep them separated almost to the point of quarantine… that’s a lot of work and I’m already struggling to find enough space for everyone 😅
-
#PlantHaul #RescuePlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #AlocasiaAddicts #Alocasia this could quite possibly be my best find yet 😍 Cuddles is a good 2ft tall in a 25cm pot 😍 yup, I paid $10.00 and he was almost $60 originally coz he’s got some burning and a little droopy. #itisntdrugs
Care Summary for Purple Sword
Purple Sword
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Fast grower 4
Large, lush leaves 3
Browns easily 2
Survivor 1
02/22/2022
I’m still learning about my purple sword plant, but so far it needs to be watered fairly frequently and needs bright, indirect light.
Fast grower
12/23/2021
Easy to care for! Likes the added humidity in my cabinet.
Fast grower
06/17/2021
Great plant!
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
05/10/2021
Very cheap and rare-ish plant! Took me forever to find one of these. Likes LOTS of water, keep the soil moist, completely watering down to the roots every 6 days. Needs more of a humid environment. I also have this one under a Flower setting, Purple LED grow light. It is very temper-mental, I’ve lost a few leaves turning yellow within a day just from not watering a few days late… you must watch it like a hawk! But I always get compliments on how fast the inner leaves grow! Have fun if you have one!
Browns easily
Large, lush leaves
Trending in your area
Heartleaf Philodendron
Zebra Plant
Fiddle Leaf Fig
String of Hearts
Philodendron Birkin
Pinstripe Calathea
Tomato Plant
Burro's Tail
Satin Pothos
Painter's Palette
Philodendron Brasil
Tradescantia Zebrina
Emerald Ripple Pepero…
Golden Barrel Cactus
Sweet Basil
Peace Lily
Purple Heart
Rattlesnake Plant
Similar to Purple Sword
✨ Discover rare plants
Red Mistletoe Cactus
Euphorbia
Betel
Eden Climbing Rose
Hoya fitchii
Sarcochilus fitzgeral…
Hoya pottsii 'Khao Ya…
Euphorbia baioensis
Hoya crassipetiolata
Aglaonema Spitfire
Rhipsalis clavata
Rainbow Echeveria
Munstead Lavender
Astroloba congesta
Stomatium acutifolium
Miss All-American Bea…
Anthurium Fingers
Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.