Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath' 12cm Plants GrowTropicals
Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath' — 6cm
Rare Alocasia

Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath'

£7.99 £11.99 SAVE 33%
Humidity-lover
Pot size

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Complete the set up
Alocasia Premium Potting Mix
The perfect soil Alocasia Premium Potting Mix · 2.5L · £4.99
Description

Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath' is a compact, architectural Alocasia with rigid, heavily textured leaves that carry a subtle blue-green metallic sheen. The surface is deeply bullate, with raised veins creating a three-dimensional, scale-like pattern that gives it a reptilian quality. New leaves emerge pale and darken as they mature, and the undersides often show a contrasting purple-maroon tone. It stays compact in habit, making it well-suited to shelves, display cases, and curated arrangements. This is a plant for people who appreciate detail and unusual texture.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

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How to care for Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath'

Set me near a bright window, out of direct sun and give me a drink when my upper soil has dried out.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath'

Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath' is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, high humidity and a minimum temperature of 16°C. It is harmful to pets and small children if eaten.

Good for

Kitchen

Care level

EasyChallenge

A little effort

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light.

Learn more →

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top layer of soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top layer of soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Needs high humidity

This plant thrives in high humidity and benefits from a consistently humid environment. Good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. To increase humidity, use a humidifier or place the plant in a naturally humid room like a bathroom or kitchen. Plant cabinets, grow tents, and terrariums can also help create stable humidity for tropical houseplants, especially in drier homes. When using enclosed growing spaces, ensure there is adequate airflow to prevent excess moisture build-up. Adding sphagnum moss around the stem can also help hold moisture and improve growing conditions. Read moreShow less

This plant thrives in high humidity and benefits from a consistently humid environment. Good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. To increase humidity, use a humidifier or place the plant in a naturally humid room like a bathroom or kitchen. Plant cabinets, grow tents, and terrariums can also help create stable humidity for tropical houseplants, especially in drier homes. When using enclosed growing spaces, ensure there is adequate airflow to prevent excess moisture build-up. Adding sphagnum moss around the stem can also help hold moisture and improve growing conditions.

Learn more →

Temperature

Keep above 16°C · Likes a warm room

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Soil & Substrate

Our Alocasia Premium Potting Mix is peat-free and formulated for sensitive Alocasias: light, airy, and structured for excellent drainage and oxygen exchange. This species does not tolerate waterlogged roots.

Growth habit

Upright →

Plant type

Aroid →

Toxicity

Harmful if chewed or swallowed. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children, and wash your hands after pruning.

Origins

Alocasia heterophylla is native to the Philippines, where it grows in humid tropical forest understorey. 'Dragon's Breath' is a cultivar selected for its pronounced leaf texture and metallic colouring.

Genus

Alocasia →
More on caring for houseplants What does bright indirect light mean? Should I mist my houseplants?
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Alocasia

Alocasia are some of the most striking houseplants you can grow. Bold, architectural leaves on slender stems that immediately draw the eye. They're native to tropical and subtropical forests across Southeast Asia, where they grow on the forest floor in warm...

More about Alocasia care
Alocasia Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers praised this Alocasia plant for its "beautiful leaves" and stunning coloring, with one stating "the shape of the leaves...is truly amazing." The plant consistently arrives healthy and well-packaged. Most shoppers report fast growth and new leaves. Minor concerns include occasional leaf damage during winter shipping and some plants arriving slightly dry.

  • The shape of the leaves in this one is truly amazing.
  • This Dragon's breath Alocasia is growing so fast and strong.
  • Stunning colour even better than the picture shows.
  • 5 stars: 57 (95%)
  • 4 stars: 3 (5%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
Jodie M.
Love is in the air

:green_heart:Great little plant very well packaged and great sellers, only thing the one leaf was taped down at the bottom which went yellow and fell off and the new leaf that was coming through came through damaged, but it has been winter so I expect it, great little plant tho, thankyou again! :green_heart:

Jodie M. review photo
K
Kirsten G.
This dragon's on fire

This Dragon's breath Alocasia is growing so fast and strong. It obviously had a good start in life. Delighted with my purchase.

Kirsten G. review photo Kirsten G. review photo
L
Laura H.
Lovely colour and shape

I had a baby one of these in a rescue box and really loved the colour and shape of the leaves. However, I managed to overwater it and it died, so I decided to get myself another and do better at watering it!

The one I got was a bigger plant, so the leaves are even better shaped and coloured than the baby one and it seems to be producing some corms, so I might have a go at propagating them, too!

As always, it arrived well packaged and very quickly.

Laura H. review photo
A
Anna M.
One of my new favourites,

One of my new favourites, just love the colour and shape of the leaves. Growing slowly but I’m sure it’ll be worth it

Anna M. review photo
J
Joanna S.
In one word - perfect!

In one word - perfect! :heart_eyes:

Joanna S. review photo
A
Agnieszka D.
Much bigger than expected and

Much bigger than expected and another fast grower. Since I bought this plant if grew twice as tall and a new leaf is coming out.

Agnieszka D. review photo
C
Chloe T.
Perfect

Beautiful leaves. Super excited about having it

E
Emma P.
Beautiful :heart_eyes:

Brought this for my partner as a Valentine present he absolutely loves it healthy beautiful leaves that arrived safe and secure definitely recommend :sparkling_heart:

S
Stephen M.
Arrived in perfect condition, cant

Arrived in perfect condition, cant wait to watch it grow

C
Charlotte C.
Lovely

I love Alocasia plants, but the shape of the leaves in this one is truly amazing. I purchased the small 6cm and you can already see the iconic shape of the dragons face in these leaves. I think this one will certainly become one of my favourites. It was perfect on delivery, very healthy, no damage or pests. Perfect.

E
Emily R.
Really pretty

The colour of the leaves are superb. It looks super cool on my window sill

Y
Ying L.
Fantastic packaging, plants arrived in

Fantastic packaging, plants arrived in great condition

K
Katherine D.
Bring out the dragon

Love the long shape of the leafs and the colour patterning is super cool. Really delivered on quality.

D
Debbie

Wow what a gorgeous little Alocasia, very healthy, thank you

D
Debbie

Wow what a gorgeous little Alocasia, very healthy, thank you

M
M C.
Baby plant, healthy on arrival

Baby plant, healthy on arrival

R
Robert K.
Very good service, great product

Very good service, great product happy with it!

A
Austin L.
Nice specimen

A nice specimen of a young plant - already pushing out leaves. Very good quality and healthy with gorgeous green colour

I
Ian H.
Yeah, it seems to be

Yeah, it seems to be a good plant. It was somewhat dry when it arrived but o. k.

J
Julie L.
I'm so lucky!

This has been a wishlist plant for so long. I'm thrilled with it. Lots of leaves and new growth. Thank you GT, as always. Plants are always tip top.

B
Belinda O.
Alocasia

Arrived carefully packed, plant specimen was of excellent quality shape of the leaves are unusual with an intense colour green

A
Andrew B.
Quality and Care

Good quality product protected extremely well in transit and excellent communication throughout overall transaction

M
Mark E.
Great plants always healthy when they arrive

Very happy looking plant on arrival

R
Richard

Great looking plant

R
Richard

Great looking plant

C
Caitlin F.
Beautiful

Amazing as always!! Beautiful plant. Well packaged and arrived in amazing conditions very very happy!

T
Tiong L.
Beautiful

Love the look of this plant

j
jayden A.
Plant

Came lovely and packed much larger than expected

s
stephen l.
Wonderful and healthy baby plant,

Wonderful and healthy baby plant, great packaging and delivery.

L
Louis M.
Great plant amazing health plant

Great plant amazing health plant was smaller than picture but amazing. It looked really cool

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Alocasia heterophylla 'Dragon's Breath'
£7.99 £11.99