Philodendrons for Central Florida

The genus Philodendron contains grows on a trunk 6 to 8 feet several hundred species of herbaceous tall. The trunk can be upright plants, which are native to Central and but often the trunk leans or South America, and belongs to the creeps along the ground. Aroid Family or Araceae. Many of these Long, rope-like roots grow grow as vines but others are epiphytes or from the trunk and help are “self-heading”, meaning that they provide support. It has large grow on upright stems and do not need leaves that are deeply lobed and support. In Latin, Philodendron means dark green in color. It bears “tree-loving”. Several Philodendrons are large, white inflorescences commonly grown as houseplants but during the summer. These are many are suited for the landscape in produced on short stalks tropical and subtropical climates. There amongst the foliage. Selloum are even some that can be grown outdoors grows in sun or shade. This is in Central Florida. a great plant for creating a Perhaps the most common tropical atmosphere in Central Florida. with large, lobed leaves but not as Philodendron grown in Florida landscapes A compact cultivar of Selloum is available. deeply divided as P. bipinnatifidum. It is Philodendron bipinnatifidum or ‘Hope’ has smaller leaves and only grows bears a colorful inflorescence that is Selloum. It was formerly known as to about 3 feet tall. white with pinkish edges. Philodendron Another ‘Xanadu’ is a small, self- heading plant self -heading that is great for small landscapes. It only Philodendron is grows 2 to 3 feet tall with a slender Philodendron stem. The narrow leaves are shallowly speciosum. It is lobed and are only 6 to 12 inches in similar to P. length. It will grow in sun or shade. bipinnatifidum Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ is easily found in but the leaves local nurseries. Philodendron bipennifolium are not lobed; has lobed leaves similar to P. bipinatifidum, they are entire Selloum, but not as large or dark green with toothed in color. The upright stems can grow 2 margins. It to 3 feet tall. Several other self-heading bears an species exist but are rare and can be dif- inflorescence ficult to locate. Philodendron eichleri and with a white Philodendron undulatum both have spadix and large, undivided leaves. Philodendron surrounded by stenolobum is usually misidentified as P. a pink spathe. williamsii. It has narrow, wavy leaves This plant is that can get 2 to 3 feet in length and fairly rare and grows a slender trunk several feet tall. Monstera deliciosa fruit not commonly Philodendron goeldii has divided leaves Philodendron selloum but this species available at nurseries. A hybrid between that resemble those of a Schefflera. and several others including P. lundii P. speciosum and P. bipinnatifidum is Philodendron ‘Soledad’ is an unknown and P. mello-barretoanum have been sometimes seen in local landscapes but is hybrid that resembles P. x evansii. reduced to synonyms of P. bipinnatifidum. rarely sold. This plant is Philodendron x Philodendron corcovadense is a small Selloum is a self-heading species that evansii. This is a very ornamental plant species growing 3 to 4 feet tall. It has

Epipremnum aureum

in them. It also bears a large, white inflorescence during the warmer months. This will mature into a cone-like fruit. This fruit is edible but only when fully ripe as it contains stinging crystals that can irritate the mouth and throat. It usually takes over a year for this fruit to reach maturity. This plant is often incorrectly called Split-Leaf

Philodendron. Monstera L Philodendron ‘Xanadu’ adansonii and Monstera friedrichstahlii are similar but with much smaller leaves, less than a foot long. They are fast growing small, undivided leaves that are arrowhead vines but do not develop shaped. an edible fruit. There are also some climbing species Epipremnum aureum, of Philodendron that can be used in Pothos Vine, is a common Central Florida. These plants like a houseplant and is also moist, shady location and will climb the commonly seen in trunk of a tree or palm. Philodendron landscapes in the southern scandens ssp. oxycardium, the Heart-leaf half of Florida. When Philodendron, is one of the most com- grown in a pot, it has monly grown houseplants. It has small, small, green, heart-shaped heart-shaped leaves and grows very flat leaves marked with yellow. against a tree trunk. ‘Brasil’ is a cultivar If it is planted out, it will L Philodendron speciosum inflorescense with variegated leaves. Philodendron climb a tree and develop erubescens, the Red-leaf Philodendron, large,divided leaves up to 2 has triangular leaves that are green and feet in length. The cultivar glossy and have a red tint on the ‘Emerald Queen’ has pure undersides. The stems and leaf stems are green leaves and ‘Marble reddish-purple. Philodendron radiatum Queen’ has green leaves has deeply lobed leaves up to a foot in with white variegation. length. Philodendron x wilsonii is a large Epipremnum pinnatum has climber with lobed leaves. These leaves dark green, divided leaves can be 2 to 3 feet in length. up to a foot in length. In addition to the climbing These other climbing Philodendrons, there are some other aroids all like a shady vining aroids that can be grown in location with moist soil. Central Florida and resemble Philodendron. Monstera deliciosa, – Eric Schmidt Ceriman, is a large climber with leaves Botanical Records Specialist 2-3 feet long. These leaves are deeply lobed and also have circular perforations L Philodendron corcovadense