Dragon Scale, Silver Dragon and Pink Dragon: how these three Alocasias differ

August 22, 2026

With “dragon” in the name there are three Alocasias that get constantly confused, especially in their variegated versions. Two of them are the same species; the third has nothing to do with them. Since we grow all three at home, here's the comparison we'd have liked to read before buying our first.

Alocasia Dragon Scale (Alocasia baginda ‘Dragon Scale’)

A species from Borneo, of the jewel Alocasiasfamily. Leaf of 15-25 cm, rigid, with scale-like relief, green with darker sunken veins and a pale underside with marked veins. It grows slowly (a leaf every 1-2 months), keeps 3-5 leaves and asks for high humidity, a very airy mix and restrained watering. Medium-high difficulty because of rot. Its albo form mixes white and green in the same scale texture and is one of the most spectacular and slowest of the variegated ones.

Alocasia Silver Dragon (Alocasia baginda ‘Silver Dragon’)

The same species as Dragon Scale, another selection. A slightly smaller and rounder leaf, almost entirely silvery, with dark green veining and the same texture. Care identical to Dragon Scale; in our experience it's a bit more sensitive to overwatering and appreciates the cabinet even more. Its albo variegated form is very scarce and the white blends with the silver, which is why it's valued less than in Dragon Scale even though it costs the same to grow.

Alocasia Pink Dragon

It's not a baginda: it's a cultivar of hybrid origin whose exact parentage isn't documented (it's associated with the Alocasia lowii / longiloba group). A much larger plant: a 30-50 cm leaf, thin, dark green with silvery veins and, above all, pink petioles that give it its name. It grows fast, keeps more leaves and copes better with watering mistakes: it's the easiest of the three and a good first “rare” Alocasia. Its Pink Dragon Albo form (white variegation on the leaf, pink petiole) is the one we're asked for most and the one we sell as a corm when the mother produces offsets.

Quick comparison

Species: Dragon Scale and Silver Dragon = Alocasia baginda (Borneo). Pink Dragon = nursery hybrid.
Size: baginda 20-40 cm plant; Pink Dragon can exceed 80 cm at home.
Leaf: baginda thick, rigid, with relief; Pink Dragon thin, smooth, glossy.
Light: the baginda tolerate less light; Pink Dragon wants more, especially the albo.
Watering: baginda, let it dry well; Pink Dragon, more regular.
Difficulty: Silver Dragon > Dragon Scale > Pink Dragon (from most to least).
Variegated: Dragon Scale Albo and Pink Dragon Albo are the most sought-after; the first is much slower.

Which to choose

If it's your first rare Alocasia or you have a dry flat without a cabinet: Pink Dragon. If you have a grow cabinet or humidifier and you like small, perfect leaves: Dragon Scale. If you already have both and want the challenge: Silver Dragon. In all three, the albo version needs more light than the green one to keep the white; we explain it in variegated Alocasias.

The corms of all three come from our mother plants and are sold rooted when we indicate it in the listing; how to sprout them is in this guide. Questions: info@marinasjunglegems.com.

Texto redactado con ayuda de inteligencia artificial y publicado por el equipo de Marina’s Jungle Gems.