Philodendron

( fil - uh - DEN - druhn )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus needs regular water to grow well and light requirements vary by species. They can be grown outdoors or indoors in bright indirect light. These are native to the tropical Americas and are prized for their handsome foliage. Use Philodendron shrubs to add greenery and a tropical feel to landscapes, or as foundation plantings. Take care when planting these tropicals in the landscape, as plant parts are toxic to humans and pets.

Philodendron Species and Varietals

Philodendron is in the plant family Araceae, and includes somewhere around 500 distinct species of plants. The genus name is derived from the Greek words philo- (meaning love or affection), and -dendron (meaning tree). The best growing zones for Philodendron vary by species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Philodendron appendiculatum (Guembe)
These plants are native to jungles, wetlands, and moist forested areas of South America. They produce very large, green leaves and reddish-green stems. Plants also produce long, adventitious roots. Flowers are spadices and fruits are berries.

Philodendron bipinnatifidum (Philodendron selloum)
Reaches 6-15 feet tall and wide, with a single upright trunk that leans as the plant matures. Leaves reach three feet long at the end of three foot long stalks.

Philodendron crassinervium
These plants are native to Brazil, and produce lance-shaped green leaves that reach up to 3 feet long. The midvein of leaves is used to store water for periods of drought during the dry season. It has a climbing growth habit, and produces adventitious roots at nodes. Spathes are white with dark red shades towards its base.

Philodendron domesticum (Spadeleaf Philodendron, Elephant Ear Philodendron, Burgundy Philodendron)
These plants are commonly grown as houseplants or greenhouse specimens, and leaves can reach up to 22 inches long.

Philodendron erubescens (Blushing Philodendron, Red-Leaf Philodendron)
These robust, evergreen climbing plants reach up to 20 feet tall or long, and produce flowers that are deep red and fragrant. They bloom in summer and fall. Hardy down to 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Leaves are green and arrow-shaped. There are many different cultivars of this species, including:

'Black Cardinal'
With dark green foliage that has reddish undersides.

'Birkin'
With cream to light yellow striping on leaves.

'Burgundy Princess'
With deep burgundy-red new foliage that ages to dark green.

'Green Emerald'
With green foliage and reddish-purple stems.

'Green Princess'
With green foliage and stems.

'Imperial Green'
This cultivar has deep green, glossy leaves.

'Imperial Red'
With reddish-pink bright new foliage that ages to true green,

'McColley's Finale'
With green leaves with yellowish midribs and veins. New foliage is golden-green.

'Moonlight'
With yellow-green to chartreuse new foliage and reddish stems.

'Pink Princess'
With bronze-green to green foliage marked with pink hues. Maroon stems.

'Prince of Orange'
With reddish-orange to pinkish new foliage that matures to green. Foliage has pink-orange midribs.

'Red Emerald'
These plants have very glossy green foliage and bright magenta stems.

'Rojo Congo'
These plants produce lance-shaped dark green to reddish foliage and red stems.

'White Princess'
With white and green variegated foliage in various patterns.

'White Wizard'
Green foliage is marked with white.

Philodendron giganteum (Chinny Leaf, Elephant Ear)
These plants are native to the Caribbean and South America, and were first described in 1856 by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott. Leaves are large and glossy green, and individual plants reach up to between 4 and 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide at maturity.

Philodendron hastatum (Silver Sword Philodendron)
These plants produce arrowhead-shaped to lance-leaf foliage that has a silvery sheen to it (especially in younger leaves). Individual plants reach up to 20-30 feet tall and about 2 feet wide. Indoors, they are more likely to top out around 10-15 feet.

Philodendron hederaceum (Philodendron scandens) (Heartleaf Philodendron, Velvet Leaf Philodendron)
This species of Philodendron is very popularly cultivated for the houseplant trade, and forms an evergreen climber that reaches up to 10-20 feet tall. Leaves are green and heart-shaped. Varietals include 'Brasil' (with lime-green variegated foliage), 'Lemon Lime' (with light chartreuse foliage), and 'Micans' (with bronzey new foliage).

Philodendron 'Lynette'
Just 1 foot tall and 2 feet wide, with bright green patterned leaves. Great as a tabletop plant.

Philodendron squamiferum (Squamiferum)
These rare plants produce dark green deeply lobed foliage and reddish-pink stems. It has a climbing growth habit.

Philodendron wendlandii
A foot tall and twice as wide; leaves are lance-shaped and is a great tough indoor foliage plant.

Philodendron xanadu (Philodendron 'Xanadu')
This species is smaller and bushier than Philodendron bipinnatifidum, and reaches 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

Caring for and pruning Philodendron shrubs

Plant Philodendron in a spot in the garden that receives morning light; these plants do not do well in direct sun, and the leaves will scorch in this exposure. Philodendron plants need loose, well-draining soil to perform at their best, and to be fed lightly and frequently (every 3-4 months with a granular fertilizer) in spring and summertime. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly, keeping soil moist but not soggy. Clean dust from leaves when it accumulates. Cut off yellow leaves as they appear. If the plant loses too many of its lower leaves to still be attractive, simply chop off the top and allow it to regrow, or replace it with a new plant. Aerial roots can be pushed down into the soil if they are long enough, or cut off of the plant.

Propagation

Philodendron plants are very easy to propagate by cuttings. To complete this process, follow the steps below:

Propagating Philodendron by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
Choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Take multiple cuttings from your plant that are about 3-6 inches long and remove all but the top 3-4 leaves from the cutting. Then, place the cutting(s) in water, making sure that none of the leaves remaining on the cuttings are touching the water. Place your container or glass in an area that receives bright, indirect light.
Your cup or container should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight) for the next few weeks.. Replace water daily. After about two to three weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When roots reach about an inch long, your cutting is ready to be planted
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.