Alocasia cupreais one of the strangest of all the alocasias. A. cupreareaches a leaf size of approximately 30cm (12 inches) and the color can range from a greenish red to almost copper. The leaves of the Copper Shield Alocasia are thick and stiff andfeel more like cardboard cutouts than a living plant. That leaf texture is known scientifically as coriacious. It has a very strange glossy texture, almost lacquered, and is so reflective it often appears to be metallic. The leaf appears to have been shaped with a hammer and anvil. If it were larger, some might be tempted to use it as a warrior's shield. The metallic effect is especially true when a camera flash goes off in it's presence. The reflections make the plant one of the more difficult to photograph. I now use a silver or white photographic reflector which is nothing more than a reflective cloth to refocus sunlight on the plant instead of a flash.
Reportedly from Borneo, where many very strange plant originate, this plant is a slow grower that prefer light shade. This is likely due to it's dislike for lower temperatures. Any temperature below 60 degrees can cause it to go into dormancy which is quite common in alocasis. It enjoys a lot of water and steamy humid jungle conditions.