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Derived & Cultivated Forms

Scroll to explore forms of Rhaphidophora decursiva

Full Specimen Plate

Rhaphidophora decursiva

Creeping Dragon Tail

Very High
LightMedium to Bright Indirect Light
Medium-High
HumidityHigh humidity
Warm
TemperatureWarm
Large
SizeLarge climber (up to 3-5m)
Fast
Growth RateFast
Easy to Moderate
DifficultyEasy to Moderate
Wild££ · UncommonLowIndian Subcontinent to South China and Indo-China
£45· 7cm plant

Aroid Atlas Price Guide

Select Plant Size

£45Base
· 7cm Plant?Estimate

Pricing Data Key

High/Good Confidence: 15+ recent online sales. Highly reliable market guide.
!
Moderate Confidence: 5-14 recent sales. Good general guide, but prices may vary.
?
Limited Data: Under 5 sales. Relying on shop stock listings and estimates.

Community price estimate based on limited sales history

ℹ️ Baseline Index ValueThe baseline index value represents the current market rate for an established 7cm whole pot specimen. Prices for other sizes, nodes, rooted cuttings, or mother plants are calculated proportionally from this base index guide.

Other colour-form prices

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Market Analysis

Rhaphidophora decursiva Price Guide & Auction Value

Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.

No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.

Before You Buy

Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing

  • Ensure there is at least one healthy node present — a cutting without a node cannot produce new growth
  • For variegated forms, check that the variegation pattern appears on the newest growth and shows no signs of reversion to green
  • Inspect the underside of leaves for spider mites (fine webbing or stippling) which are common on pothos-family plants
  • Confirm the cutting has visible roots or a healthy node before purchasing — unrooted cuttings require propagation experience to succeed

Rhaphidophora decursiva Morphology

leaf ShapeDeeply pinnatifidFoliage deeply lobed in a feather-like pattern, but not cut all the way to the central vein. with numerous narrow lobes
leaf Length50-90cm
leaf Width30-50cm
petiole ColorGreen
venationPinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein.
textureGlossy, leathery
variegationNone
growth HabitThick climbing stems

About Rhaphidophora decursiva

Rhaphidophora decursiva is a vigorous climbing aroid native to tropical and subtropical forests stretching from the Indian Subcontinent to South China and Indo-China. It climbs trunks in warm wet conditions. The adult leaves are extremely large, glossy green, and deeply pinnatifid with many narrow lobes, lacking any perforations. The juvenile leaves, in contrast, are much smaller and undivided. The thick rooting stems display visible nodes and numerous climbing aerial roots.

Native Range

China

Propagation Guide

How to Propagate Rhaphidophora decursiva

Methods
Stem cuttingNode cutting
Difficulty
Moderate
Time to Establish

4-7 months

Care Guide

Rhaphidophora decursiva Care Guide & Growing Conditions

Substrate

Well-draining mix: 40% perlite, 40% potting compost, 20% orchid bark.

Watering

Water when the top 3–4 cm is dry. These are generally forgiving and will tolerate slight drought better than overwatering.

Humidity

50–70% preferred. Most varieties in this group are more adaptable to typical indoor conditions than true aroids.

Fertilising

Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2 weeks in spring and summer. Monthly in winter.

Repotting

Every 12–18 months when root-bound. These vining plants grow quickly and may need annual repotting in peak years.

Common Problems

Problem

Yellowing leaves

Cause

Overwatering or too little light

Fix

Allow to dry more between waterings; move to a brighter position

Problem

Loss of variegation (for variegated forms)

Cause

Insufficient light causing reversion to green

Fix

Move to a brighter position — variegated leaves need more light to maintain their pattern

Problem

Root rot

Cause

Overwatering or compacted substrate

Fix

Repot into fresh well-draining substrate; reduce watering frequency

Field Notes · Vol. 11 July 2022

The Widespread Climber

Rhaphidophora decursiva has one of the wider distributions in the genus — from the Indian Subcontinent through South China and Indo-China, making it one of the most geographically extensive Rhaphidophora species. At accessible price tier, which reflects this broad availability. The adult form produces deeply pinnate leaves on a substantial moss pole; most cultivated specimens are grown through the less divided juvenile phase without reaching the full adult form. Worth growing on with patience to see the leaf transformation.

Written at AroidAtlas research station— Aroid Atlas
Retail Price?The average price across tracked UK retailers (nurseries and specialty stores).
Not tracked
Not currently stocked by tracked UK retailers

How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses online sold listings converted to GBP at current exchange rates, excluding extreme outliers to ensure a fair-value guide. Falls back to UK retail average when auction data is unavailable.