This is one of the few philodendrons that are not climbers. Instead it grows as a woody shrub. It has huge leaves and one stem that does not branch. The branch falls over when the top gets too heavy. Aerial roots come off of the stem. Even though it is not defined as a climber, if planted near a tree it will climb your tree. And the stem that falls over may wind its way around your yard.
It has the most unusual flower. Mine has been in the back garden 2 years this is the first bloom I’ve seen. There are two more flower pods I expect will bloom soon.
It can get to 10′ tall and 15′ wide with a stem as thick as 6″ in diameter. This plant is native to the rain forests of Brazil. I’ve read some reports that it will grow to 50′ in Florida. So plant in a large area.
It grows best in moist, but well drained soil. It does not want full sun, dappled to part shade is best. This plant is not drought tolerant, so water when times are dry. Other than that it needs little care.
It is not frost hardy. We’ve had several light frosts and temperatures as low at 28′ and the plant has done fine with no protection. It can be damaged by frost. Just remove damaged leaves. If it dies back to the ground, wait. Often it will come back just fine when the weather warms.
This plant is poison — do not eat it.
If you wish to prune it, remove leaves beginning at the bottom to let in light to plants shaded out from this plant. If you remove all the leaves, newer leaves should grow in at the top that are smaller than the existing leaves you removed.
If you cut the stem it will not branch out. It will send up pups from the roots somewhere nearby.
More information:
Floridata: Philodendron bipinnatifidum
3 responses so far ↓
1 admin // Jan 7, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Doing fine - temperatures into the high 20’s don’t bother this plant at all. Little growth over the winter but otherwise fine.
2 dynamite // May 25, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I have a split leaf philodendron that is 40 years old I have cut the trunk into once, and planted the other half outside, but the big half is still in my home.
In the 40 years i’ve had it i’ve never had a bloom. The half that is outside has been there about three years, and it has never had a bloom. Please advise me the plants are healthy, and beautiful, but no blooms???
3 ljmacphee // May 26, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Hello,
I saw your comment yesterday but do not yet have an answer for you.
When ever a plant doesn’t bloom the first recommendation is to give it more sun. But mine is in almost full shade and blooms happily so I don’t think that is the problem.
The second most likely thing to try to help it bloom is to give a fertilizer that is higher in phosphorous ( the second of the 3 fertilizer numbers ) phosphorous helps with blooming and most fertilizers have reduced the amount because of environmental concerns.
Of interest is that the bloom heats up when it is ready to be pollinated, something I didn’t know. These folks have a ton of information on philodendron species.
One thing they mention is that philodendron does not morph into adult mode unless it is allowed to climb something. Perhaps it wants to be more upright?
I’m sorry I don’t have a more specific answer yet, but I will keep digging. In the meantime check out that link, there was a great deal of very interesting information about philodendrons there.
You must log in to post a comment.