Tree Philodendron aka Split Leaf ( Philodendron bipinnatifidum )
Dec 3rd 2008 about 3 years after planting
Jan. 2010 after the freeze
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. All philodendrons contain calcium oxalates. Depending on the plant it might numb your mouth, or cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and or irritated skin. Wear gloves while working with these plants.
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.
We recently had a 3 day freeze. All the leaves rotted. I waited a couple of weeks, then removed the leaves yesterday. Time will tell if the plant will revive itself.
When I removed the leaves I discovered three babies that had grown up from the roots near the base of the plant. The leaves had been sheltering them from view.
More information:
Floridata: Philodendron bipinnatifidum
9 Responses to 'Tree Philodendron aka Split Leaf ( Philodendron bipinnatifidum )'
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Doing fine – temperatures into the high 20’s don’t bother this plant at all. Little growth over the winter but otherwise fine.
admin
7 Jan 08 at 2:55 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???
dynamite
25 May 08 at 2:24 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.
ljmacphee
26 May 08 at 8:54 pm
I love this plant. I put in a second this spring. The second one is near a pine tree so it will have something to cling to and to grow up as it gets larger.
Both are in dry, mostly shaded areas. I find they need lots of water when first planted, but do fine about 6 months down the road in moderately damp/dry spots.
ljmacphee
25 Aug 08 at 11:45 am
I have had one of these philodendrons in a pot for many years. I am having a problem and wonder if anyone is having the same problem. I live in zone 4 but I leave this plant outside year round with frost protection because of an insect problem. I have tried everything to kill this pest. It is white when immature – dark when mature – has about 10-12 legs and is visible but small. It likes the older leaves more than the new leaves. When I keep it in the house the pests multiply very fast which is why I keep it outdoors. Does anyone have any info about this?
roadside partners
18 Oct 08 at 9:35 pm
Small white bugs with lots of legs sound like mealy bugs. But I don’t know that they darken when older I think they stay white.
I blast them off with the garden hose when they get on the bamboo, then spray with insecticide oil.
OhioState information on Mealy bugs has a list of pesticides and rates their effectiveness.
ljmacphee
18 Oct 08 at 10:31 pm
I love this plant, it’s one of my favorites. I put in a second one. The second one is about 3′ from a pine, I’m hoping I can convince it to grow up the tree.
ljmacphee
25 Mar 09 at 9:10 pm
I love this, the second one found the tree and sent roots into the bark. I’m hoping it’ll grow up the tree.
Drought tolerant, they flowered and grew right though the drought this summer.
timestocome
9 Sep 09 at 5:21 pm
Although I understand how you got the information from Flroidata that Philodendron bipinnatifidum is not a climber, in fact it climbs in South Florida as well as Brazil. I have photos of the plant climbing as high as 100 feet into the canopy.
Please visit my http://www.ExoticRainforest.com website and look for the page on the plants in the collection page; http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Philodendron%20bipinnatifidum%20pc.html
ExoticRainforest
27 Nov 09 at 8:41 pm