Five Unique Philodendrons for Your Collection

Within the world of tropical houseplants, philodendrons are a nearly ubiquitous variety. From basic houseplant staples, to some of the most beautiful and sought-after foliage, there are philodendrons to suit any interest. At Floral Acres, we always have a wide range of both common and rare philodendrons in stock to choose from.

Philodendrons come from the aroid family—due to the specific sort of blooms they produce—along with other common varieties like monstera, pothos, anthurium, and alocasia. Aroids are popular due to their relatively simple care requirements, such as bright, indirect light, and moderate humidity. Most philodendrons, like other aroids, prefer a chunky, well-draining soil with water when the top 1-2 inches are dry. Regular fertilizing during the growth season will help these plants to produce the beautiful foliage for which they are prized.

Philodendrons are one of my personal favourite plants, partly due to their wide range of appearance and behaviour. Some, like the heartleaf varieties, are prone to vining, while others, like the pink princess or white wizard, prefer to climb. Some philodendrons even thrive in an environment where their roots can crawl horizontally along the surface of the soil.

When bringing a new philodendron into your home, be sure to research the optimal growth conditions it prefers. And always keep in mind, these plants can be toxic to curious critters!

Plenty of new cultivars have come onto the market, or become more accessible to collectors, so always be on the lookout for new plant babies that might suit your home. 

Here are five philodendrons you might not have seen—but might need.

Philodendron Tortum

This unique looking plant is a fast-growing climber, and produces spiral-shaped leaves that unfurl to look like palm fronds. This plant is also known as a fernleaf philodendron because of its distinctive, sprawling leaves. With each new leaf, this growth becomes more pronounced. The tortum prefers high humidity with indirect lighting, and can be easily propagated via node cuttings. 

Philodendron Verrucosum

Existing within the informal grouping of velvet leaf philodendrons, the verrucosum has some of the most stunning foliage of any philodendron. These produce heart-shaped leaves, distinctive veining, and velvet-soft foliage with a vibrant contrast between light and dark green. With a good pole to climb, these plants can produce show-stoppers. The verrucosum also has delicate reddish-orange hairs on the petiole. This plant is one that requires more consistent humidity than some of the others on this list.

Philodendron Green Dragon

The green dragon philodendron is one of several exotic varieties with large, lobed leaves that grow more distinctively-shaped with each new leaf. Although the moisture and humidity requirements are similar to the rest of the plants featured here, the dark green leaves on the green dragon can make it more adaptable to lower-light conditions. Another climber, this plant will do well with a moss pole to climb. 

Philodendron Green Congo Nuclear

If you prefer flashy variegation, the green congo nuclear is a great choice. This is one of the stunners in my own personal collection! This is a self-heading variety, which means it grows upright without the need for a pole to climb. The green congo nuclear produces vibrant yellow and lime green variegation, with pink and peach on the underside of new leaves. Even better, the variegation is stable which means it won’t revert to green if it doesn’t receive enough light. That said, like all variegated plants, the green congo nuclear will do best with adequate indirect lighting or a supplemental growth light. 

Philo Brandtianum 

The last plant featured on this list today, despite hundreds of potential others, is the brandtianum. This is a heartleaf philodendron that can thrive while climbing or trailing—but like others mentioned above, it can produce larger leaves while climbing. The leaves have unique patterns of which feature silver and olive colouration. This is a versatile and fast-growing philodendron, good for collectors or beginners. 

These are just a selection of the many philodendrons available, with new cultivars often emerging. Be sure to check out the selection at Floral Acres, in-store or online. 

Until next time!