Alocasia Brian Williams

Well I made this Alocasia hybrid in 2002 and it has been getting better known on the marker. I have given a few plants to get tested for things like hardiness and size. But I would be extremely interested to hear how they have grown for DG members. How large have they gotten how well have they over wintered or how hard or easy they have been to grow. I would also like to know if their were any real complaints on how it performed that you wish it could do or what you wish it would not do? Things like this will help me determine what to look for in future hybrids.

Here is a photo today of the underside of the leaves.

The other family members few have grown. These are the other seedlings that did not get mass produced like Alocasia Brian Williams these all have just number no names. Though I have been growing a few out and plan to later release them if they are different enough or better growers than the original Brian williams hybrid. Some show some promise for being great landscape plants and have enough differences to maybe do well on the market. I have some dwarf forms and some larger forms some have dark maroon under the leaves other are green. All of them look at first hand fairly similar in shape and color so most of these may not be much interest unless your a total elephant ear nut like myself. Their were 15 seedlings total and here you maybe able to see about 6 forms the rest are planted all over the garden.

Alocasia BW is one of my absolute favorites, tough leaves, more spider mite resistant than any of my other EEs (probably those tough leaves!) , easy to grow and beautiful to boot. I've had it for about 1 1/2-2 years now. The biggest I've had it get is about 5-6' tall with leaves almost 3' long (that was in the house this past winter with a 1000w hps light). I had pictures but they seem to have vanished. Just before spring it started putting out multiple inflorescences, I kept nipping them off and they kept coming. (The fault of the hps light I'm sure, I need to get a MH conversion bulb.)
I burned it when I put it out this spring and it hasn't quite reached those porportions again but it may well be that size or bigger by the time I have to bring it back in.
It also does well with the dry air and heat here, it made it through our beastly hot July with hardly a whimper. It does get only morning sun until about 11 am .
I think this winter it gets to go into storage ,I just couldn't resist growing it for the winter last year but I'm running out of space!
I think you hit a home run with this one, I really can't think of a complaint about it.

I started growing it this summer. I got it as a very neglected plant from a local nursery (pot bound, with only one leaf).
Now it is gorgeous! Huge (I mean really huge) leaves with great coloring. It looks fantastic with the breeze blowing because of the contrast of the bright green (top) and a bright burgundy (back) of the leaves.
A real winner!

I really loves the EE with contrasting leaves and stems, but honestly leaves with contrasting colors are even better!

This is good to hear I thought that is was one of the better hybrids I had seen when I released it. I enjoy growing many of the fancier alocasias but they are a bit harder to grow for most. I find this one acts more like Macorrhiza which is very easy to grow. I was not going for a small plant when breeding this but for something more fun to have in the garden with size and color rather than all green alocasias that are used in landscape.

I have this one growing, and I think I have been over watering it. I have been keeping the ground wet at all times. Now I notice some of my leaves are dying. So I am cutting back on the watering.

Brian does this one not like to have wet feet?

It enjoys water but does not do well sitting in water. It is not as aquatic as many colocasias seem to be. I water mine every 2 days unless we have rain. It is in a well drained area also.

Mine is still small but doing well, I've only had it a few months. What zone is it hardy? Hope I can leave it in the ground.

Linda I have a few reports of it over wintering in zone 8 I am not sure though if it was zone 8a or 8b. It should over winter about the same as Macrorrhiza does for you. So maybe a good mulching to protect it or if really small take in the first year.

I'll pot it up and bring it in. Don't know where I'm going to put them all, I have a gh but usually don't heat it to more than around 40 degrees. I would like for some of them to continue growing and think they need to come into the house for that.

Brian, I love the colors of that... and the size. If I want one should I wait until spring to buy and plant it?

Great looking E,I would love to have it in my garden,hope it hits the market! GReat job!
Root

Thanks root doctor it seems to be selling well in florida as a landscape type plant. its a little big for a house plant. I have ran into it in a few places which is cool to see your name on something my friend went to Hawaii on vacation and in the botanical gardens they had it with a nice tag with my name on it he took a picture and said I was now famous LOL. I have many friend that are breeders and when I talk about hybrid plants I grow they tell me how and when they breed them. Interesting to know that this plant will be around long after I am gone.

Well I will looking for it here,I love the two tone leaves,that really sets it off.

What a beautiful EE !! I haven't noticed this in our local area... would love to find some. Will definately make some phone calls and look harder!
Michelle

I have that one on my 'gotta have' list. I think the only place I have seen it is Agristarts. Maybe I should be checking Ebay. ;)

Might check Brian's ebay site.

Brian doesn't have any listed but if he knows there are some looking for it and if he has one he may list it.

There isn't any listing for a Alocasia Brian Williams EE on EBay.

I need one as will. I over watered or something cause mine is dying.

ME TOO! I have been loking for one for several months!
The only place I have found it was Agristarts, like Badseed said. There are a few others I'd like to have too, but that one is at the top of my list!
Brian... you could do an Ad here on DG in the Classified Ad forum.....if you have enough.

Michelle

Went to look in the greenhouse I only have around 3 -- 3 inch pots left.

Brian, that isn't enough for a classified ad I guess.
When will you have more?
Michelle

Spring I will restock in the spring. I am trying to make room for all my stuff for winter so now is not best time to get more going.

When is a good time to visit in spring? March? April? I'll bring an R.V. lol I just love your plants.

Totally ok Brian.... For me I should wait as it is taking me longer to get everything done these days due to the heat and humidity. I probably will get the EE area ready for spring planting this Winter. I have a few in pots that will do fine until then, but they are in gallon pots or larger. I also want to wait till Hurricane season is over before I do much more out there!
Please let us know when you are ready.
Michelle

AuntB Now is an amazing time to see the place. Everything is grown full and huge. Spring is a good time to get things but the place is usually in shambles till summer starts. Now is a good time to get things also but most people have to take care of them over the winter so they usually wait for spring again.

I do know I have to visit. Also want to see Missouri Botanical Gardens. And I HAVE to have your Alocasia and some cannas and ...and....and... How cool to have your name in Hawaii.. a celebrity right here on DG!

Here is a image of one of mine that I have flowering now.

How perfect, Michael. Do you have a pic of the whole plant? I'm going to get one, maybe next spring......

Nice Michael I did not know you were growing my hybrid. I found that in southern Florida it does not do well? I am not exactly sure why maybe the heat? All the plants I have seen from about mid florida down seem to not do to well. But all the plants north of them tend to look great. Specially the zone7 to 8 or 9 areas. I have many more of the same hybrid and they are being test to see if some of them can take the heat better than the original released form.

I managed to cross Borneo giant X Brian Williams hopefully this will take and I can get a even larger hybrid.

Here is a photo of my plant the exact form in TC after two to three years full sun here in KY.

Another picture of the same plant. It was right around 7 feet tall. A few have started growing trunks should be interesting to see them more mature.

Brian,

I too purchased 2 neglected plants from a nursery here in Florida. The plants are doing great, but I think they are still recovering from the neglect as they are not as large as I would have thought they would get. I attached a picture of mine and this is from a month and 1/2 ago. It's about 5 ft tall now and we've had them for 6 months.

I grow everything I have in the ground with the exception of Alocasia Rugosa, so after this winter, I will be able to tell you more on the cold hardiness.

To me, it seems like all of my Alocasias do better when the weather is cooler.

My only complaint with it is that mine seems like it flowers way more than my macros do, and I always though they flowered alot. And it's not really a complaint.....I just cut the flowers as they come.

Overall, I agree with you, that is a really nice landscape Alocasia. Can't wait for future releases. I came across an Alocasia Wanda Williams and I can't wait to see how it does. I'm keeping it in a pot in the greenhouse until winter is over, though, so I can make sure it survives.



This message was edited Oct 13, 2006 8:14 PM

The funny thing about mine is I thought I had lost it several years ago but last year I noticed an odd little leaf coming up from a pot with A. longiloba. Turns out it was the "lost" A. "Brian Williams" and is growing nicely now with a stout 6 inch trunk.

I think I need to get one so I can put in some input here. Beautiful plant Brian and easy to grow is always a plus.

lol "so I can put in some input here"...... I can use that, and reuse it.... I HAD to get one, (not because I'm a plant phreak), because there was a forum about it on DG and I couldn't really add to the discussion.... thx Dravencat -B

Well I try to make the attempt to sound logical instead of just phreaky and grabby(good thing I didnt see one around here, oh the looks I would get carrying that around the store)

Beautiful bloom Michael, and beautiful plants Brian. Mine will get dug and potted today, next year I'll put it where it gets more sun. This year it was in almost total shade, grew some but not large.

Wow, no idea that was your plant... sold all over southern California. Sadly I didnt' acclimate it well to sun (though not sure most Alocasias like our sun ever) and it never looked good. Finally fried it down to the roots, and then I moved it to a shady spot (hope it's not too late). See if it comes back.. What a gorgeous plant, though... just not made for So Cal Sun.