ALOCASIA is a bi-monthly online journal that publishes queer writers exploring our lives and experiences through the lens of plants and gardening and horticulture. They are currently open for poetry and prose submissions for their next themed issue: THORNS, which will examine queer domestic violence, partner violence, and sexual assault through the lens of horticulture and plant life.  For more information, see my interview with editor Sarah Clark and a link to submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about ALOCASIA. 

ANSWER: ALOCASIA is a bi-monthly online journal that publishes queer writers exploring our lives and experiences through the lens of plants and gardening and horticulture. During the beginning of the (ongoing!) pandemic, or maybe just the middle of the rise of (also ongoing…) global fascism, an incredible thing happened. People began to bring nature indoors. Alongside Zoom trivia nights and sourdough starters, houseplants and indoor gardening became more popular than ever—with myself, included. One day, the poet Chen Chen wrote on Twitter, “i love it when people, plants, and poems are gay.” And I not only agreed, but decided to start a literary magazine about it. 

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for in submissions? 

ANSWER: We’re never looking for any one particular kind of submission. I love to be surprised, or left wondering why I never thought to ask to consider that exact kind of work. I’m also always very thrilled when we receive work that’s anti-colonial in spirit, or that interrogates place through a lens of decolonization.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in? 

ANSWER: I’d honestly love to see more work that balances sex or even the erotic with our queer planty mission. We also rarely receive work about marijuana or psychedelic plants, which I’m not necessarily asking people to go out and experience to write about, but I’ve always been surprised that didn’t come up organically. Apart from that, I do hope to receive more work from Black, Indigenous, and writers of color, because we’re often shut out of IRL gardening and horticultural spaces, and I’d love to see more of us reconnecting with the plant world in our writing.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

ANSWER: I love love love Dreginald, fifth wheel press, Chapter House, Yellow Medicine Review, smoke and mold, Honey Literary, The Shade Journal, Foglifter, Apogee, Screen Door Review… I’m forgetting a ton of places, and spend too much time reading. beestung and ANMLY might deserve a shout-out because I edit them, too!

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with the ALOCASIA?

ANSWER: I really can’t emphasize how much I love reading people’s writing, and getting a peek into their lives and thoughts and experiences. Regardless of whether we move forward with publishing their work, it’s such a treasure to get to read what comes in. (Alternately, my least favorite part is turning down work!)

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions? 

ANSWER: ALOCASIAmagazine@gmail.com, but please do read our submission guidelines first, and please, I am begging you, don’t send us work that isn’t about plants.

HOPKINSON: If someone has a question, how can they contact you? 

ANSWER: Always happy to answer questions at ALOCASIAmagazine@gmail.com!

HOPKINSON: Is there anything exciting coming up you’d like to mention? 

ANSWER: We’re currently open for a themed call, THORNS, which seeks to examine lived experiences of queer domestic violence, partner violence, and sexual assault through the lens of horticulture and plant life. You can find more about that call on our website.

We’ve just launched ALOCASIA: 99 Queer Writers on Plants and Nature, our very first anthology, which is available on Amazon.

This summer, we’re holding a series of four online generative creative writing workshops from May through August, each led by a different instructor with a different topic in mind. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out our website, sign up for our mailing list, or email me! Oh, and the workshops will be free to attend (so you can spend your money on a new plant, instead!).

Later this year, we’re also going to be opening up applications for the ALOCASIA Microgrant for Queer Nature Writers. The application will be super simple—a brief biographical statement, writing sample, and letter of interest. We’ll be giving two queer writers a $500 grant each to go out into the world and do their magic. Last year’s recipient was Mukethe Kawinzi, who we’re so grateful we were able to support. Our website has the information on this opportunity, too.

Finally, we’ll be crafting a call soon for our December issue, themed around Queer EcoFutures. More soon on that.

Click here to read submission guidelines.

• SUBMISSION DEADLINE: April 10, 2026 for next themed issue
  • Deadlines vary. Keep up with us on socials or on our mailing list to stay in touch.
• THEMES: Current theme is THORNS. Ongoing theme: Anything by queer writers as long as it’s about plants or horticulture.
• FORMAT: online
• SUBMISSION FEE: None 
• PAYMENT: $50
• ISSUE FREQUENCY: Every other month
• AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: Under 3 days
• SUBMISSION METHOD: Email
• SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Yes
• FORMS: Poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Please, no photography or essays.
• LISTINGS: Chill Subs, Duotrope, CLMP
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, X (Twitter)

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