Philodendron selloumTree Philodendron

The Philodendron selloum, or Tree Philodendron, builds a broad spreading rosette of very large deeply lobed leaves on long stalks, all rising from a thick stem that thickens with age into something close to a short trunk and hangs with aerial roots.

It is a South American forest plant and it behaves like one, giving its best in filtered light. In landscape work it is used for bold volume under canopy trees, around pools, and as a long-term atrium specimen.

Specifications

• Height2 to 3 metres, reaching 4 metres on old plants
• Width2 to 3 metres
• Native toSouthern Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and northern Argentina
• FoliageVery large, deeply lobed, glossy dark green leaves on long stalks; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers rich, humus-rich soils with free drainage
• LightPartial shade to filtered sun, tolerating full sun in humid climates
• WaterModerate to regular; keep evenly moist through the warm months
• ClimateThrives in tropical, subtropical and humid warm temperate regions, and in conditioned interiors

Additional Features

• FormBroad spreading rosette on a stout stem that becomes trunk-like with age and carries aerial roots
• UsesIdeal for bold understorey and poolside mass planting, courtyard beds, and atrium and lobby specimens
• SpacingPlant 1.5 to 2 metres apart to allow each rosette to spread
• Low MaintenanceRemove ageing leaves at the base; tuck or trim aerial roots as required
• Pest ResistanceGenerally sound, with mealybug the usual interior concern
• VersatilityWorks equally as an exterior mass planting and as a long-term interior specimen
• ToxicityContains calcium oxalate and is irritant if chewed

Tree Philodendron gives a shaded scheme genuine mass and shadow at a scale most understorey planting cannot reach.