Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 4-15-12, #86-9.
Alocasia ‘Portora’
Alocasia portei x Alocasia odora
a-loh-KAY-see-uh por-te-i x oh-DOR-uh
This hybrid was produced by LariAnn Garner of Aroidia Research. Although many websites state that they grow to 6-8 feet, the Aroidia Research website shows one that is at least 12′. Brian’s Botanicals website also says they will grow 10-12′.
The genus, Alocasia (Schott) G.Don, was named and described by George Don in Sweet’s Hortus Britannicus in 1839. They were first listed as Colocasia sect. Alocasia by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in Meletemata Botanica in 1832.
As of 11-18-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 88 species in the Alocasia genus. It is a member of the plant family Araceae with 142 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
In the following photographs, you will see that Alocasia ‘Portora’ is one of the hardiest and easiest to grow. I think that is attributed to its parents and their hardiness also. Alocasia ‘Portora’ can grow to 8-12′ tall. Some information on the internet says they will grow in sun to part shade, but I have never had them in full sun until 2020 when I kept them on the back porch. They are supposedly hardy in USDA Zones 7b-11, depending on what site you look at. I normally moved mine inside if the temps drop close to 45 degrees F because some Alocasia can go dormant if the temps get around 45. However… In 2020, I left them on the back porch until an “F” was in the forecast and they did awesomely well.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 5-1-09, #12-6.
I bought my Alocasia ‘Portora’ from Wellspring Gardens in the spring of 2009. It has been a very impressive plant for sure and this page is in tribute to the Alocasia ‘Portora’. My Alocasia ‘Portora’ and I have been through a lot together from the spring of 2009 until 2017 when I am writing this page. In the beginning, I was completely new to Alocasia, so there were ups and downs with some of the others. A. ‘Portora’ continued to survive, thrive, and produce many babies. Reluctantly, when I moved back to Missouri in February 2013, the original plant was too HUGE to bring with me. SO, I brought the largest baby which went through an 8-9 hour ride in a trailer at 30 degrees. She has survived every winter since then in a cool basement with not much light. I didn’t realize I could have just cut off the leaves and brought the bigger plant… So, this page is about my journey with Alocasia ‘Portora’. I hope you enjoy it!
Alocasia ‘Portora’ at 25″ tall on 12-18-09, #54-1.
When cooler temperatures started coming I moved the potted plants from the backyard into the sunrooms, den, butler’s pantry, and kitchen. When we had warm days I would move the plants to the front porch, which is 40′ wide. The above photo was taken on 12-18-09 and the Alocasia ‘Portora’ measured 25″ tall.
<<<<2010>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ at 48″ on 9-15-10.
In the spring of 2010, I decided to put the Alocasia ‘Portora’ in the ground in this new bed. Umm… Pot and all. By the time this photo was taken on September 15, 2010, she was 48″ tall.
According to the Aroidia Research website, there are two variations of this cross between Alocasia portei and Alocasia odora. One, which she calls A. ‘Portora Red’ has the reddish coloration on the petioles and mauve colored spathe on the inflorescence. The other she calls ‘Portora Green’ which is completely green.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ leaf on 9-15-10, #59-7.
This beautiful dark green ruffled leaf of the Alocasia ‘Portora’ measured 21″ wide x 31″ long on 9-15-10, #59-7. I know there are many much bigger Alocasia out there in the world, but this was my first Alocasia in my own little paradise. I thought it was HUGE and AWESOME at the time.
There is a seedling selection of this plant that is sold incorrectly by the name of ‘Portadora’, ‘Portodora’, Portidora, or ‘Portore’. Aroidia Research did not choose that selection for the market. She also said that “should” they decide to introduce their selection on the market, it would be called Alocasia ‘Thunder Waves’. The Aroidia Research website does not give any dates, but according to The National Gardening Association website, LariAnn’s selections from the original cross were made in the 1980’s.
<<<<2011>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ first baby on 8-1-11, #68-9.
Plant Delights Nurserywhichho is usually very accurate, has an Alocasia ‘Portodora’ listed and says it was selected by Ron Weeks “FROM” seedlings of an Alocasia x portora cross (Alocasia odora x Alocasia portei) made by LariAnn Garner of Aroida Research. Their information states they grow to a height of at least 12′.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ first flower on 8-1-11, #68-9.
The above photo is the photo of her first flower. I thought it was quite strange how much attention I paid to my plants and completely didn’t notice she had a flower until it started to wilt. She produced another one 8 days later but that photo was blurry.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ 70″ tall on 8-3-11, #70-1.
By August 3, 2011, when the above photo was taken, Alocasia ‘Portora was 70 inches tall. Looking more AWESOME all the time!
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 9-22-11, #80-4
Alocasia ‘Portora’ is one of the most cold-hardy Alocasia on the market, being cold hardy in USDA Zones 7b-10b.
<<<<2012>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 4-15-12, #86-9.
Now three years old and back outside again. Alocasia ‘Portora’ just gets more AWESOME all the time.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 4-15-12, #86-10.
The above photo is an Alocasia ‘Portora’ offset that I removed on 4-15-12.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ bud on 5-16-12, #92-1.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 5-24-12, #93-1.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 5-24-12, #93-2.
Unlike the Colocasia esculenta and some other Aroids, the flowers of the Alocasia have a very pleasant scent.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 5-26-12, #94-1.
Alocasia ‘Portora’s’ baby on 6-11-12, #99-9.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 10-28-12, #126-7.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ with another baby in the west sunroom for the winter again. She was 72″ tall and 86″ wide when this photo was taken on 10-28-12.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ never failed to make a great impression with everyone who visited the mansion, and with me as well. The photo on the left was taken when it was 70 inches tall and two years old on 8-3-11 (#70-1). The center photo is a good one of both its inflorescence and the color of the petiole (stem). It seems to have shrunk somewhat because it measured 64″ when the photo on the right was taken on 9-22-11 (#80-4). Well, as the plant grows the leaves will droop somewhat as the younger leaves grow taller.
<<<<2013>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on the right on 5-14-13, #148-6.
When I moved back to the farm in mid-Missouri in February 2013 I left my original Alocasia ‘Portora’ with a friend in Mississippi. I brought one of her offspring with me, though. I thought the original plant was too large to bring with me, but I guess I could have just removed the leaves. I didn’t think of it at the time. The trip to Missouri took 8-9 hours and it was 30 degrees. There was a lot of snow on the ground when I arrived at my parent’s home and it was late in the night. I took my plants to their basement where they stayed until temps were warm enough to take outside.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-29-13, #159-2.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ recovered very well and was looking forward to being outside. The plant on the right is an Aloe gageana. I decided to temporarily put the Alocasia next to one of Dad’s sheds.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-23-13, #164-4.
I later moved them to another spot where I had refurbished part of a flower bed I had made over 20 years earlier. It was much shadier now than before…
<<<<2014>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-29-14, #230-14.
Back outside again for the summer and doing very well. I was amazed at how well the Alocasia overwintered so well in the basement. The barrel the Alocasia are around is covering an old well. The shade bed is to the left.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-12-14, #231-9.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ did very well all summer and when cooler temps came I put them back in the basement for the winter.
<<<<2015>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 5-16-15, #255-3.
WELL, what can I say? One Sunday morning my Alocasia was attacked while still in the basement over the winter. I knew they would be OK eventually and here you see Alocasia ‘Portora’ sending up a sign that she is indeed OK… Those little flat round things are seeds from the Chinese Elm tree.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-14-15, #268-5.
As weird as it looks… At first, I had no idea what was going on. It looked sort of like a flower stalk. But a petiole/leaf finally poked through the sheath…
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-27-15, #270-4.
The leaf was torn up… Then I decided that happened when this plant was “attacked” and it tore up the beginning of this leaf. That seems a little bizarre because in photo #255,-3 there was barely even a sprout… That was there before had all died and the plant almost went dormant.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-12-15, #271-3.
By July 12, Alocasia ‘Portora’ was looking really good. Within a few months, cold weather was coming and once again the Alocasia were moved inside for another winter.
<<<<2016>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-19-16, #274-7.
After going through a winter in the basement, the Alocasia takes some time to adjust to being outside. They do pretty good in the basement but not 100%. By the time the temps warm up enough for them to be out outside they look a bit ragged.
For some reason, I didn’t take many photos in 2016. Well, for one thing, I didn’t have the blog up and running again yet.
<<<<2017>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-18-17, #345-6.
Back outside AGAIN for the summer, Alocasia ‘Portora seems so relieved…
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-24-17, #349-7.
The largest rhizome almost went dormant but by 6-24-17, has returned to life.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-11-17, #356-5.
Alocasia ‘Portoralookedng really AWESOME on July 11, 2017.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 8-11-17, #365-7.
Umm… I know this pot is getting really crowded and needs some attention. The big leaf in the center on top is Alocasia ‘Mayan Mask’.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 8-11-17, #365-8.
GEEZ!!!
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 8-29-17, #369-11.
I know if I had put the individual plants in their own pots they would have been MUCH larger by now. But, I didn’t get to do that in 2017.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 8-29-17, #369-12.
I was working on a post to talk about the differences between Alocasia and Colocasia so I took photos of the leaf undersides. Here you see how the petiole attaches to the leaf’s midrib, which is called an apex.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 8-29-17, #369-13.
I didn’t get to separate this pot of Alocasia ‘Portora’ in 2017. It will be done in 2018 for sure, though.
The Alocasia inside for the winter on 10-16-18, #384-1.
I moved the plants inside on October 16 because the temperature was starting to get cooler. The Alocasia and a few other plants will spend the winter in the basement where they always do very well.
<<<<2018>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-28-18, #465-4.
Back outside for the summer and looking very well by June 28 when the above photo was taken.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-28-18, #465-5.
Very soon I will be dividing the plants in this pot…
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on the potting table on the back porch on 7-11-18, #475-1.
I moved the potting table to the back porch then I took the pot of Alocasia ‘Portora’ that needed attention. Then I realized I didn’t have enough 12″ pots so I had to wait until I found more. I went to the Family Dollar store in Sedalia because they always had my favorite pots. The pot it is currently in came from Family Dollar. I like these pots because they are inexpensive and have a rim I can hold on to when I am moving the larger plants. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the store I saw it had closed. I checked with Dollar General in town and they carry a different type of pot… I give my extra Alocasia away so I don’t want to spend much money on their pots.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-12-18, #476-4.
The back porch is very sunny, so when it has been very hot I have to move the Alocasia ‘Portora’ under the part of the porch with a roof.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 7-29-18, #487-7.
Still waiting… I had gone to Wagler’s Greenhouse earlier to see if they had larger pots but Mrs. Wagler was busy. Her husband let me take some bigger pots, but when I came home I realized they weren’t big enough. Later, I talked to her about it when she was at their neighbor’s home. I have other plants to take to them and maybe we can find some 12″ pots…
<<<<FINALLY REPOTTING DAY!>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ waiting to be separated on 9-9-18.
I decided Sunday afternoon, September 9 was a good day to go ahead and separate the seven Alocasia ‘Portora’ in this pot.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ to be separated on 9-9-18, #505-2.
They could have easily been removed in 2016 and 2017 but I kept putting it off. The old bulb in the center went dormant quite some time ago… There is always something to do on the farm and in the flower beds and it is very easy to put off doing things that don’t need immediate attention.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ plants removed from the pot on 9-9-18, #505-3.
Once I had mixed the potting soil in the wheelbarrow, I removed the plants from the pot and started separating them.
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 9-9-18, #505-4.
You always lose a few roots when separating plants but they grow new ones pretty quickly. No harm done…
Alocasia ‘Portora’ tuber on 9-9-18, #505-5.
The old rhizome is partly rotten. It is very old. In fact, this tuber “WAS’ the plant I brought with me when I moved back here from Mississippi in 2013. Its mother plant is the original Alocasia ‘Portora’ I bought from Wellspring Gardens (in Florida) in 2009.
I removed the top part of the tuber that was still firm and I will clean up the rest of it. Part of the lower part is still firm, too. It will help to keep it out of the soil for a while and let it dry out. At least I think so but I am no expert. 🙂
Positioning an Alocasia ‘Portora’ in a new pot on 9-9-18, #505-6.
Alocasia doesn’t really have that extensive of a root system. You can put them in larger pots if you want right from the start, but I have found I like to “pot-up” as they grow larger. You just have to make sure you put the larger plants in pots big enough to hold them up without falling over. I always tie the plant to three stakes to hold it upright until their new roots grow and the plant can stand up on its own. You just have to remember the outer leaves and petioles will be the soonest to die. Also, make sure you keep enough room in the twine around the petioles for them to grow…
Alocasia ‘Portora’ separated and in new pots on 9-9-18, #505-9.
The four black pots will go to a local greenhouse and I will keep the others. There are more besides these… 🙂
<<<<2019>>>>
Alocasia ‘Portora’ on 6-14-19, #589-5.
All but the largest and oldest Alocasia ‘Portora’ made it through the winter just fine. The largest plant went dormant and is now starting to come back to life. There is also one on the front porch that I kept in my bedroom with an Alocasia ‘Mayan Mask’. I took a photo of it but the image would not open…
<<<<2020>>>>
I didn’t take any photos of the Alocasia in 2020. When I took them out of the basement in the spring, I put them on the back porch so I could re-pot them. Some needed fresh potting soil and many needed to be divided and put in their own pots and others needed larger pots. I wanted to do this before I moved them to the area by the old fish pool where I always keep them. BUT, became very busy in the garden so I was only able to re-pot a few. So, they were on the back deck all summer in full sun… Surprisingly, they did very well. I was surprised because they had never been in full sun before. Then, I left them on the back porch until October 15 when an “F” was in the forecast instead of taking them to the basement when temps got down to about 45° F. The cooler temps didn’t bother them a bit! Instead of taking them to the basement, I put them in the dining room and back bedroom. It is December 28 when I am updating this page, so I may still go ahead and take them to the basement.
I will continue adding more photos and information as time goes by. I haven’t taken any photos of the Alocasia ‘Portora’ for a couple of years but they are still alive and well.
The Alocasia parent page has more information and links about Alocasia and photos of the plants I have grown. I also have a separate page for each one.
As with all pages of the plants that are currently growing here, this page is always a work in progress. More photos and experiences with them will be added as time goes by.
I hope you enjoyed my tribute to the AWESOME Alocasia ‘Portora’. If you have any questions or comments, I would like to hear from you.
The Belmont Rooster 
Hi, I just wanted to say how much I appreciated this article. It’s really useful to see how the plants progress and especially the pictures of the roots and division.
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Hello Nathan! I am glad you enjoyed the information. Alocasia ‘Portora’ is a great plant and has been fun to grow. Thanks for the comment!
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I purchased alocasia portora and a. odora tubers spring of 2021, online from Caladiums4Less at a ridiculously low price for 18-inch tubers. Here in Oregon my colocasias and alocasias are very slow to start growing, so portora and odora (how the grower/seller lists them) have only put out a couple of leaves so far (August), but should be vigorous next summer. I cannot say enough good things about this online nursery, as I have purchased huge caladiums, colocasia esculenta and c. Jack’s Giant from him, receiving personal assistance and advice, replacements when I made a growing mistake, and even extra tubers. The tubers I received were all larger than advertised—-so large, in fact, that I laughed when I opened the box and realized the size of the planting hole I would have to dig! People are surprised when they first see my lush tropical garden here in PNW Oregon. It’s been a great experiment for me, and your extensive plant info has helped me immensely. Thanks!
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Hello Marty! Thanks for the info about Caladiums4Less. I will check them out. It isn’t unusual for many of the Alocasia to only have a couple of leaves at a time. I have has MANY over the years and ‘Portora’. Mayan Mask’ and ‘Calidora’ have done the best here. If you want a smaller one (that never flowers), Alocasia gageana is a good one. Generally, what you get online are plants grown from tissue culture which are sometimes hard to get going… I keep them in the basement over the winter where they “sorta” go dormant but most not all the way. This past winter I kept them upstairs and most of them went dormant. GEEZ! I also found out if you keep them in more sun they don’t grow as tall but they look AMAZING! Well, here anyway. I keep mine in pots so I can move them if I have to. I hope you have continued success and I am glad you have the Aroid itch! Take care and thanks for the comment!
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