Split-leaf philodendron

Sun

Partial shade or bright, filtered light; established plants can tolerate some direct sun, but hot afternoon sun may scorch the leaves.

Water

Water deeply when the surface soil begins to dry; keep evenly moist during active growth without leaving roots waterlogged. Water less in winter.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but freely draining soil; use an airy, bark-enriched potting mix in containers.

Height

10-15 ft (3-4.6 m) outdoors in warm climates; usually smaller in containers

Spread

8-15 ft (2.4-4.6 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Large, glossy green leaves with deeply cut, wavy lobes, carried on long stalks; mature stems develop prominent leaf scars and aerial roots.

Growth

Moderate to fast in warm, moist conditions; slow in cool weather

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   12 ft (3.8 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

Australia

Growth rate

Moderate

• Allow room for the mature leaf spread, away from narrow paths and doorways.
• Water the root zone thoroughly, then let the surface begin to dry before watering again.
• Feed container plants monthly during spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser at the label rate.
• Mulch outdoor plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the stem.
• Move containers under cover before nights regularly fall below 50°F (10°C), and provide bright light.
• Repot in spring when roots fill the container, using a pot with drainage holes.

Pruning. In spring or summer, cut yellow, damaged or unwanted lower leaves close to their attachment with clean tools. Wear gloves, avoid cutting into the main stem, and do not remove large numbers of healthy leaves at once.

Spring

Repot crowded container plants and refresh the surface compost of larger specimens.

Spring

Remove winter-damaged leaves once new growth starts and resume feeding.

Early summer

Move overwintered containers outdoors only when nights stay warm; introduce outdoor light gradually.

Summer

Check soil moisture frequently and inspect leaf undersides for pests.

Autumn

Bring containers into frost-free shelter before cold nights arrive.

Winter

Reduce watering, stop feeding if growth pauses, and keep plants away from cold glass and draughts.

• Use as a bold foliage specimen in a sheltered courtyard with ample floor space.
• Plant beneath high-canopied trees with ferns and shade-tolerant foliage plants.
• Set a large container beside a covered terrace to create a tropical focal point.
• Contrast its divided leaves with upright palms or broad, undivided canna leaves.

Garden styles it suits: Modern tropical, Architectural minimal, Luxury resort, Tropical, Balinese and Brazilian tropical modernism.

Plant it with: Cast-iron plant, Bird's nest fern, Shell ginger, Bromeliads, Lady palm and Canna.

Wildlife: Offers cover for small animals in warm-climate gardens, but is not a dependable nectar plant for local pollinators. Flowers are beetle-pollinated in its native range.

• Spider mites in dry indoor conditions: rinse leaf undersides and use insecticidal soap labelled for the pest if needed.
• Mealybugs or scale: isolate affected containers, remove visible pests and treat with a suitable labelled product.
• Root rot from saturated soil: improve drainage, empty saucers and allow the surface to dry between waterings.
• Scorched or cold-damaged leaves: provide afternoon shade and frost-free shelter; remove damaged leaves after conditions improve.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if chewed. All parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate mouth pain, drooling and difficulty swallowing; sap can irritate skin and eyes. Most exposures cause local irritation, but severe swelling or breathing difficulty requires urgent medical or veterinary attention.

Where it spreads. Recognised as an environmental weed in parts of south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Do not dump stems or rooted material in bushland.

• Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)

  Mature leaves usually have enclosed holes as well as edge splits; it climbs rather than forming the same stout, self-supporting trunk.

• Xanadu (Thaumatophyllum xanadu)

  Forms a much smaller, dense clump with shorter leaf stalks and smaller, more regularly lobed leaves.

The epithet bipinnatifidum refers to the deeply divided foliage, while split-leaf describes the same conspicuous leaf shape.

Propagation. Separate rooted offsets in spring or early summer, keeping roots attached to each division. Seed propagation is possible when fresh seed is available; leaf stalks alone will not produce new plants.

Accepted botanical name

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.