Philodendron billietiae 'Black'
Black Billietiae
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About Philodendron billietiae 'Black'
Philodendron billietiae 'Black' is a cultivar mutation of the species Philodendron billietiae. It has the same long, narrow, strap-shaped leaves with deeply lobed sinus ears as the species, but differs in coloration: the leaf blades are a dark, velvety, near-black green, while the petioles retain the species' bright orange-gold hue. The contrast between the near-black blades and orange petioles is its main identifying feature.
Native range
Cultivated mutation from species native to Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, and Guyana.
Classification
- Genus
- Philodendron
- Family
- Araceae
- Type
- Cultivar
- Growth habit
- Climbing, epiphytic
- Form of
- Philodendron billietiae
Morphology
- Leaf shape
- SagittateArrowhead-shaped leaves, with pointed lobes at the base pointing downwards., strap-like
- Leaf length
- 40-80cm
- Leaf width
- 10-18cm
- Petiole colour
- Vibrant orange-gold
- Venation
- Deeply grooved dark primary veins
- Texture
- Leathery, thick, matte-velvety
- Variegation
- Melanistic color mutation
- Growth habit
- Climbing epiphyteA plant that grows on another plant (like a tree) for physical support, absorbing water and nutrients from the air and rain.
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For sale in the UK
Before you buy
- Check that roots are firm and white to tan; avoid plants with black, slimy, or absent roots
- Inspect leaf undersides for thrips (tiny dark specks or silvery streaking) and mealybugs (white cottony deposits at leaf axils)
- Look for genuinely vivid orange petiole colour rather than a duller yellow-green, the main indicator of well-grown stock
- Confirm you're buying the base species and not a variegated or dark form at base-species pricing
Philodendron billietiae 'Black' care
- Substrate
- A high-porosity mix — 50% perlite, 30% orchid bark, 20% coco coir — with a moss pole or similar support set in at planting time. Philodendrons are prone to root rot in denser substrates, and the aerial roots need something to climb as much as the pot needs drainage.
- Watering
- Water thoroughly, then let the top third of the mix dry before watering again. As a genuinely fast grower, it uses water faster than most of the genus in active growth — check more often through summer.
- Humidity
- High, 65-80%. UK tap water can cause brown tips; rainwater or filtered water helps, though this species is a little more tolerant of average conditions than the genus's slower species.
- Feeding
- Feed at quarter to half strength every 2-3 weeks in the growing season with a balanced fertiliser; drop to monthly over winter. Its fast growth rate supports slightly more consistent feeding than slower climbing philodendrons.
- Repotting
- Repot every 12-18 months, sizing up the climbing support alongside the pot — given its size at maturity, plan for a substantial support from early on rather than replacing a small one repeatedly.
Common problems
Dull or greening petiole colour
Cause: Insufficient light for the orange pigmentation to develop and hold
Fix: Move to brighter indirect light; the signature orange colour is strongest under good light
Root rot
Cause: Substrate that stays wet, often from a mix that's too dense or a pot with poor drainage
Fix: Repot into a chunkier mix immediately and trim away any mushy roots
Brown leaf tips
Cause: Low humidity or minerals in UK tap water
Fix: Increase ambient humidity and switch to rainwater or filtered water
Gear for this plant
- Coir Moss Pole, 120cm (4-Pack)Coco coir totem for climbing aroids to root into as they grow upward.
- Natural Rooting Powder, 3 x 75gRooting hormone powder for stem and leaf cuttings.
- Precision Bonsai Pruning Scissors, 200mmFine-bladed snips for clean node cuts when taking a cutting.
- Digital Hygrometer & ThermometerLCD humidity and temperature gauge for checking a grow spot against a plant's target range.
How to propagate Philodendron billietiae 'Black'
- Methods
- Stem cutting, Node cutting. Step-by-step guide
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Rewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
- Time to establish
- 4-8 months
- Notes
- Stem cuttings with at least one node and aerial root root readily in damp sphagnum or water within 3-6 weeks; this is a fast grower relative to other collector philodendrons, so cuttings establish quickly given a climbing support.