ALOCASIA MICHOLITZIANA 'FRYDEK' "DORAYAKI" AUREA VARIEGATED

Alocasia micholitziana 'Frydek' "Dorayaki" Aurea Variegated Looking for the round-form Frydek? Alocasia micholitziana 'Frydek' "Dorayaki" Aurea Variegated takes the velvet Frydek every collector knows and reworks it into something rounder, softer, and considerably rarer. The classic 'Frydek' is prized for its deep, matte, velvet-green blade and bright white venation. "Dorayaki" is the round-leaf form of it, and the name is a nice bit of collector shorthand: a dorayaki is the round Japanese red-bean pancake, and the label points straight at the plump, rounded leaf shape that sets this form apart from the pointed classic. Once you know that, the name tells you what to expect. The aurea layer is what makes this one scarce. Instead of plain green, the pale tissue comes through as golden-yellow, marbled across the deep green in a way that reads warm rather than stark. On a velvet leaf this behaves differently to a glossy one: the matte surface absorbs light and softens the gold, so the contrast sits deep in the blade rather than flashing off it. Because the aurea variegation is chimeric, it lands differently on every leaf and every plant, and it cannot be guaranteed true-to-type through tissue culture. 'Frydek' is a velvet Alocasia, so it rewards a little more attention than the leathery species: bright, indirect light to hold the variegation, steady high humidity, and water once the top of the substrate begins to dry. Velvet leaves dislike being wetted directly, so water to the substrate rather than the foliage. All plants are grown in Fluval Stratum, our preferred early-stage medium for corms and baby Alocasia, held in our 3D printed Corm Keeper stand. Once fully rooted and at juvenile size we repot into our own pon mix, blended from components in our Soil Ninja range. Variegation: golden-yellow aurea, chimeric and marbled across the blade Form: "Dorayaki" round-leaf form, named for the round Japanese pancake Leaf: thick, velvet, rounded, with the bright venation of a classic Frydek Light: bright, indirect light to support healthy variegation Humidity: high, thrives at 60% and above Growth habit: compact, slow-growing velvet cultivar International Import Tissue Culture Plant A rare chance to add a round-form aurea Frydek to your collection. Get in touch with the team at The Alocasia Company if you'd like advice on care or variegation stability.