Apoballis acuminatissima ‘Lavallaei’ (‘Purple Sword’)

Name and natural range of Apoballis acuminatissima ‘Lavallaei’ (‘Purple Sword’)

Apoballis acuminatissima is native to Sumatra. ‘Lavallaei’ is a long-used horticultural name for this plant. It has also been known under the older botanical names Aglaonema lavalleei and Schismatoglottis lavalleei. ‘Purple Sword’ is another commercial name used for it.

How to care for Apoballis acuminatissima ‘Lavallaei’ (‘Purple Sword’)

Keep the plant in bright indirect light at around 18–27 °C and avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Aim for 60–80% humidity with gentle airflow around the leaves, especially where humidity is high.

Apoballis acuminatissima ‘Lavallaei’ grows well in an airy mix that holds some moisture while still draining freely. Use a pot with drainage holes and water thoroughly when the surface begins to dry.

Feed lightly during active growth with houseplant fertiliser at half strength.

Repot when the roots and rhizome have filled the container.

Divide a mature clump by separating rooted shoots with a clean tool and potting each section in fresh mix.

Problems and solutions for Apoballis acuminatissima ‘Lavallaei’

• Wilting or yellowing while the mix remains wet: the roots may have been damaged by staying wet for too long. Unpot the plant and inspect them; cut soft brown roots back to healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rotten material, then repot in fresh, airy mix.
• Dry pale patches after hot direct sun: the foliage is likely scorched. Move the plant to bright indirect light.
• White cottony clusters around the leaf bases: mealybugs may be sheltering where the shoots emerge from the rhizome. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects and use a treatment labelled for mealybugs on ornamental houseplants if they persist. Repeat it only as directed on the label.
• Tiny pale speckles or fine webbing: spider mites may be feeding on the leaf undersides. Check the purplish-red undersides closely, rinse them thoroughly and keep the plant apart from others until the mites are controlled. If mites remain after rinsing, use a labelled mite treatment. Repeat it only as directed on the label.

Apoballis acuminatissima ‘Lavallaei’ (‘Purple Sword’) is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

What does Apoballis acuminatissima mean, and who first published it?

Apoballis combines Greek apo, meaning away, with ballein, meaning to throw. Acuminatissima means very sharply pointed and describes the leaves’ long-tapered tips.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Apoballis in 1858 in Österreichische Botanische Zeitschrift, volume 8, page 318.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described it as Schismatoglottis acuminatissima in 1864 in Annales Musei Botanici Lugduno-Batavi, volume 1, page 281. Sin Yeng Wong and Peter Charles Boyce later placed it in Apoballis as Apoballis acuminatissima in 2010 in Botanical Studies (Taipei), volume 51, page 253.