Scientific: Philodendron bipinnatifidum (formerly known as Philodendron selloum)

Common: Fiddle leaf philodendron, lacy tree philodendron

Family: Araceae

Origin: Tropical rainforests of south Brazil into Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Pronounciation: Fill-o-DEN-dron bi-pin-na-ti-FI-dum

Hardiness zones

Sunset 8-12, 13 (with protection from sun), 14-24, and as an indoor plant in colder zones

USDA 9 (with protection)-11, and as an indoor plant in colder zones

Landscape Use: In outdoors, use as textural accent shrub for entryways, patios, landscape planters under building overhangs, and large outdoor atriums. Also, grown as indoor specimen plant under bright indirect light conditions.

Form & Character: Visually imposing, tropical

Growth Habit: Stiff and succulent, moderately slow growing to 6 to 12 feet in height and eventually producing a trunk, sometimes climbing with adventitious root. This plant will grow much faster and become much larger in more tropical climates.

Foliage/Texture: Leaves are large thick and leathery bright green to 3 feet long, deeply pinntified. Petiole flattened on adaxial side. Over time will form a distinct hairy trunk with dominant leaf scars in a spiral arrangement and eventually adventitious roots. All philodendrons produce cataphylls, which are modified leaves that surround and protect the newly forming leaves. Fiddle leaf philodendron has a very coarse texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Fiddle leaf philodendron takes about 15 to 20 years to reach reproductive maturity and almost never flowers or fruits when cultivated in Phoenix because of the environmental stress of the desert climate. The flower of fiddle leaf phikodendron is a club-shaped stalk with a modified leaf called a spathe partially surrounding it and serving as a hood. Flowers can reach over 1 foot in length and contain about 3000 white �florets� on the stalk. The uppermost flowers are fertile males, the lowermost flowers are fertile females, and the middle flowers are sterile males. The sterile male flowers produce heat. The flowers are borne throughout most of the year in south Florida, coastal southern California and Hawaii.

Seasonal Color: None

Temperature: Hardy to 30oF. Prefers mild to warm tropical or Mediterranean climate conditions.

Light: In Phoenix, full shade please!!!

Soil: Tolerant of alkalinity but will yellow. Prefers organic soils that are slightly acidic. Salt sensitive.

Watering: Irrigate regularly throughout the year, though somewhat less in winter.

Pruning: Rarely needs pruning

Propagation: Easily propagated by seed, stem cuttings containing at least two nodes, or division of basal offshoots.

Disease and pests: None