Philodendron

Philodendron species

fill-oh-DEN-dron

Araceae

Explanation of name: Generic name from Greek, philos (loving) and dendron (tree).

Philodendron is a large tropical American genus (approx. 700 species, ARA), with many cultivated species and cultivars. For extensive information on Philodendron, see ARA.

By far the most important in South Florida landscaping is Philodendron bipinnatifidum Endl. (Philodendron selloum C. Koch) and its dwarf cultivars, especially ‘Xanadu’.

Recognition: The genus resembles Homalomena which differs in having a consistently terrestrial habit, frequently spiny petioles, a sap smelling of anise, staminodia mixed in among the pistillate flowers on the spadix (ARA).

Philodendrons have parallel veins (as opposed to net veins in Epipremnum and several other genera---see the key under Araceae).The leaf blades in Philodendron, unlike many other broad-leaved Aroids, have a vein running along the edge of the basal notch (sinus) where the petiole is attached.

Landscape uses: Philodendron bipinnatifidum (P. selloum) and a small cultivar ‘Xanadu’ are among the most-used landscaping plants in South Florida. There are innumerable additional species, hybrids, and cultivars. (For a sampler see http://www.glasshouseworks.com/trop-p2.html.)  Popular selections, thanks in part to tissue culture, are Philodendron: ‘Burle Marx’ (with the leaves green and strongly sagittate), ‘Congo’ (with stiff green, elliptic-lanceolate leaves), ‘Hope’ (leaves deeply pinnately lobed, coarse; to 6’ tall, P. selloum variant or hybrid; for detailed information consult www.redlandsnursery.com.au/infonotes/hope.htm’), and a series of red-colored cultivars, some marketed without full identification. The reddish selections include P. ‘Anderson’s Red’ (mostly green, with red overtones), ‘Autumn’ (light orange), ‘Imperial’ (green with some burgundy, also ‘Imperial Red’ with much more burgundy), ‘Rojo Congo’ (near-burgundy leaves on red petioles  http://www.oglesbytc.com/oglesby_details.asp?TF_ID=3005), and ‘Prince of Orange’ (foliage rich orange).