Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Botanical Name

Philodendron

Plant Common Name

Philodendron

General Description

Native to the warm, moist, tropical forests and cliffs of the American and West Indian tropics, Philodendron species are popular houseplants and tropical landscape specimens. The number of species is debated by experts. Some say there are as few as 200 species, and others insist there are more than 900.

The word philodendron means “tree-loving”, so it’s no wonder they usually grow in association with trees in their native habitats. They may be completely epiphytic (tree dwelling) or rooted in the soil and cling to trees or rocks for support. Only a few are ground dwelling. Gardeners have divided them into two forms according to growth habit, vining and self-heading types. Self-heading philodendron are usually stout and slow-growing while the vining types have longer, thinner, twining or rambling stems.

Philodendron leaves have two key forms, depending on plant age and placement on the vine. The juvenile leaves are smaller and typically heart-shaped whereas the mature leaves are very large and often deeply lobed with holes or divisions. Mature leaves are rarely produced in houseplant specimens. The alternate leaves emerge from sheath-like protective structures called cataphylls, which often contrast in color and persist on the stems or whither and fall creating messy debris. Most Philodendron produce aerial roots. Some are small and used for clinging, while others are thick, rope-like and dangle from the tree canopy to the ground.

Like all members of the family Araceae, they have unusual flowers consisting of a finger-like floral column (spadix) surrounded by a white or pale green petal-like leaf (spathe). The female flowers are usually at the base of the spadix and the male flowers are towards the top. The spathe is often small, leathery and hidden among the foliage. There may be one or many flowers produced in a cluster. Pollination is usually accomplished by specific beetle species. After pollination, the female flowers produce showy, berry-like fruits of red or orange along the column.

There are many species of Philodendron in cultivation and thousands of popular hybrids. Two of the most common are heartleaf and cutleaf philodendron. Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is the quintessential houseplant. It is a fast-growing, tender, evergreen vine from Brazil with shiny green leaves and thin stems. Cutleaf philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) is a tree-like evergreen shrub from Brazil and Paraguay with huge elephant-ear like leaves that are impressive indoors and out.

Philodendrons are very tender and can only be planted outside in the warmest regions. Culture varies from species to species but most prefer bright filtered light to full shade and fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Water regularly but avoid wet or soggy soils. Container-grown specimens prefer bright, indirect light and peaty, potting soil with sand or bark for good drainage. Regular pruning is required to keep the plants in bounds. Inspect vines regularly for aphids, spider mites and scale insects. There are species suitable for groundcover as well as trellising while others make great bedding plants, hedges or landscape specimens. As houseplants, they are common in malls, office buildings and homes. Only your imagination limits how they may be creatively incorporated into landscape and interior designs.

There may be health concerns about Philodendron. For more information about these concerns see the North Carolina State University factsheet at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Philosp.htm