With its heavily dissected leaves that may reach 3 feet in length with an 18-inch spread, Philodendron selloum adds a dramatic touch to landscapes as well as interiorscapes. It’s also called "tree philodendron" because its stem elongates to form a tree-like trunk that supports the foliage on top. In its native tropical habitat, tree philodendron is a fast grower that reaches a height of up to 15 feet. Tree philodendron flourishes across its subtropical native habitat in southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. Gardeners in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11 can also grow this plant as an outdoor year-round perennial. Gardeners who live in zones outside this hardiness range can still enjoy tree philodendron by growing it in a pot that they move indoors when temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or by letting it grow year-round indoors as a houseplant. Even if cold temperatures burn its foliage in zone 9, tree philodendron generally remains root-hardy in this zone, flushing new growth when the weather warms in spring.
Growing Instructions
- The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.
- Put the seeds on the soil.
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
- Water the seeds.
- Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade.
- When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted. Plant out in the open ground in warmer countries or in a large container elsewhere.