black velvet – Alocasia reginulaObsidian Soul · CC0 1.0
Houseplant

Alocasia reginula

black velvet

A Bornean aroid endemic to Sabah, described in 1998 from cultivated plants of unknown origin and later found to grow only on deeply shaded limestone cliffs in Tabin Wildlife Reserve. A small "jewel Alocasia" with dark, velvety leaves and pale veins; often sold as "Black Velvet", it is a natural species, not a cultivar. The name reginula means "little queen".

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Botanical fact sheet

Alocasia reginula A.Hay

✓ Verified fact sheet Nov 9, 2026
Alocasia reginula
Photo: Obsidian SoulCC0 1.0sourceInfringing image? Let us know
Common name
black velvet
Taxonomy
Family: Araceae · Genus: Alocasia12
Plant type
Évelő, gumós kontyvirágféle (Araceae); kis termetű „ékszer-Alocasia”.4
Native distribution
Borneó: Sabah (Malajzia), a Tabin Vadrezervátum.uncertain1313
Natural habitat
Száraz, mélyen árnyékos mészkősziklák.2

Still missing: height / growth form, flowering period, growth & dormancy period.

Sources (13)
  1. POWO – Alocasia reginula · Native distribution · CC BY 3.0
  2. Wikipedia (en) – Alocasia reginula · Natural habitat · CC BY-SA 4.0
  3. Wong & Joling 2021, Check List 17(3) – Plazi · Native distribution
  4. Wikipedia (en) – Alocasia reginula · Plant type · CC BY-SA 4.0
  5. Garden Pals – Alocasia reginula
  6. Garden Pals – Alocasia reginula
  7. Garden Pals – Alocasia reginula
  8. Smart Garden Guide – Alocasia Black Velvet
  9. Foliage Factory – Alocasia reginula
  10. Garden Betty – Alocasia Black Velvet
  11. Garden.org – Alocasia
  12. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy – Alocasia reginula · Scientific name · CC BY 4.0
  13. GBIF – distributions (Catalogue of Life; The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)) · Native distribution · CC BY 4.0

Automatic data comes from the open sources above, credited per their licences. Care experience is shown separately below.

Community knowledge

Tips & experience from members

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Real data

How members water it

Not enough logs yet: at least 3 plants with regular watering logs are needed (now: 0). Waterings logged in Care feed this – anonymised and aggregated.

Care guidelines

How it thrives

Partly general data for the genus Alocasia
Watermedium
Lightbright indirect
Humidityhigh
Min. temperature15 °C
No dormancy · general genus dataDifficulty: ●●●○○ · general genus data⚠ May be toxic to pets / people

No monthly schedule is shown because cultivar-/species-level data is not yet sufficient. The general values above are guidance only.

Plant in a loose, airy mix that partly dries between waterings – it rots in soggy soil. Keep it away from air conditioners and heaters; it dislikes sudden temperature changes.

Cultivars

Cultivars of Alocasia reginula

Alocasia Ninja1
⚠ Pets & children · genus Alocasia
Cat moderateDog moderateHorse moderatePet bird moderateRabbit, rodent moderateCattle moderateSheep, goat moderatePig moderatePoultry moderateTortoise, herbivorous reptile moderateHuman (child) moderatedetails →
At a glance

black velvet – what to know

black velvet (Alocasia reginula) – family: Araceae, genus: Alocasia. Native range: Borneó: Sabah (Malajzia), a Tabin Vadrezervátum. Care guidelines: light: bright indirect; water: medium; min. 15 °C. For cats: moderately toxic; for dogs: moderately toxic. Keep it out of reach and call a vet straight away if you suspect poisoning.

All Alocasia species in the catalog →Detailed toxicity data →

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water black velvet?

Moderately: water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, and never let it sit in standing water.

How much light does black velvet need?

It likes bright but indirect light, such as near an east- or west-facing window.

How cold can black velvet get?

Keep it above 15 °C – it is frost-tender and needs a frost-free spot in winter.

Is black velvet toxic to cats and dogs?

For cats: moderately toxic; for dogs: moderately toxic. Keep it out of reach and call a vet straight away if you suspect poisoning.

Community intelligence

What members’ data shows

When does it really bloom?

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Average watering interval

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Who grows it?

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Questions about this species

Same genus

Alocasia

Alocasia 'Regal Shields'Regal Shields Elephant Ear1Alocasia baginda1Alocasia melo1Alocasia reginula 'Ninja'1Alocasia amazonicaElephant earAlocasia baginda 'Dragon Scale'Alocasia baginda 'Silver Dragon'Alocasia cucullataAlocasia cupreaAlocasia macrorrhizosAlocasia sanderianaAlocasia zebrina

Data sources: Wikipedia – Alocasia reginula (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GBIF.org – Alocasia reginula (CC BY 4.0) · Care data is for guidance only.

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