Apoballis

Meet the silver-speckled rainforest gem! Apoballis is a small genus of about 14 tropical aroids from Southeast Asia, centered on the island of Sumatra, and you'll sometimes still see it sold under its old name, Schismatoglottis. The star of the bunch is Apoballis acuminatissima, also called Purple Sword or Red Sword, with 'Lavallei' (also spelled 'Lavallaei') as its best-known form. People love it for its pointed leaves, mottled silver and green on top and rich burgundy underneath, on a compact plant that fits on any shelf!

Browse our Apoballis collection to find your new amigo.

  • Toxic to pets and children
  • Repot once every 2 years
  • Fertilize once a month
  • Bright, indirect light
  • Requires frequent watering

About Apoballis

Origin

Apoballis grows wild on damp, shady forest floors in Southeast Asia, mainly on Sumatra in Indonesia, with a few species reaching Java, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar. Botanists split it off from Schismatoglottis in 2010, which is why both names still float around in plant shops. Think warm, humid and sheltered under a leafy canopy: that's the vibe to recreate at home.

Air Purifying

We'll be honest: Apoballis wasn't part of NASA's classic clean-air study, so there's no hard data on how much it filters your air. Like any leafy houseplant it does its small part, but open windows and good ventilation do the heavy lifting. Enjoy this amigo for its good looks!

Toxicity

Treat Apoballis as toxic. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, but like almost all aroids it contains calcium oxalate crystals, and NC State Extension lists it as poisonous. Chewing the leaves or stems can cause mouth irritation, drooling, swelling and vomiting in cats, dogs and kids, so keep it out of reach and wear gloves when you prune or divide it, as the sap can irritate skin.

Caring for Apoballis

Watering

Water when the top inch (2–3 cm) of soil has dried out, which is roughly once a week in spring and summer and every 2–3 weeks in fall and winter. Apoballis likes soil that stays lightly moist, like a wrung-out sponge: let it dry out completely and the thin leaves start to droop, keep it soggy and the roots rot. Always use a pot with drainage holes and empty the saucer after watering.

Light and Placement

Give it bright, indirect light, such as a spot a few feet back from an east- or west-facing window. It copes with medium light too, but in a dim corner it grows slowly and the soil stays wet for too long. Keep it out of hot direct sun, which scorches the leaves, and away from cold drafts and heat vents: it wants temperatures above 16°C (60°F) and humidity around 60%, so a humidifier or pebble tray really helps during dry Canadian winters.

Nutrition

Feed once a month in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Apoballis is a fairly slow grower, so there's no need to overdo it. Skip the snacks in fall and winter.

Repotting

Repot every 2 years in spring, or when roots start poking out of the drainage holes. Choose a pot just 1–2 inches larger and an airy mix of potting soil with plenty of perlite or orchid bark, as Apoballis is more prone to root rot than most aroids. Spring repotting is also the easiest time to divide a crowded plant into new baby amigos.

Pruning and Flowering

Very little pruning needed: just snip off yellow or dried-out lower leaves at the base with clean scissors. Mature plants occasionally produce a small aroid flower (a spike called a spadix inside a pale hood called a spathe), but it's rare indoors and not very showy. The leaves are the real show here!

Apoballis SOS

Illness

Drooping, collapsed leaves usually mean the soil got too dry, while yellowing leaves and a mushy base point to too much water. Crispy brown edges are a sign the air is too dry. Check under the leaves now and then for spider mites, mealybugs or thrips, and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them clean and pest-free.

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