Full Specimen Plate
Philodendron domesticum
Spade-leaf Philodendron
Quick Facts
Aroid Atlas Price Guide
Community estimate — limited market data
See full auction data ↓Morphology
About
Philodendron domesticum, sometimes still traded under its older synonym P. tuxtlanum or the trade name 'Spade Leaf Philodendron', is a robust climbing species with elongated, glossy, arrow-shaped leaves. Long in cultivation, it has been a parent or presumed parent of several ornamental selections, most notably its own stable variegated form. 'Whipple Way' — a marble-variegated Philodendron with unpredictable, unique-per-leaf patterning — is commonly described as a sport of this species, though sources are not unanimous on that point.
Collector Popularity Review
Aroid Atlas Collector Review: Philodendron domesticum (Spade-leaf Philodendron) is ranked as Uncommon rarity on the market. Rating is calculated based on overall cultivation difficulty, aesthetic appeal, and search popularity among active collectors.
Market Analysis
Auction History & Retail Data
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
- This species has been sold under several synonyms (P. tuxtlanum) — check the seller means the same plant
- For 'Whipple Way', be aware its exact relationship to this species is debated among sources
- All Philodendron are toxic if ingested — keep away from pets and children
Propagation Guide
Growing More Plants
6-10 weeks
Cultivar character is preserved through vegetative cuttings
Roots readily from stem or node cuttings. Variegated forms need a cutting taken at a visibly variegated node to preserve the pattern.
Care Guide
Growing Conditions
Chunky, well-draining aroid mix: 40% orchid bark, 30% potting compost, 20% perlite, 10% sphagnum moss.
Allow the top few centimetres of substrate to dry between waterings.
50-70%.
Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 3-4 weeks during the growing season.
Annually while young; every 2 years once established.
Common Problems
Leggy growth
No support to climb
Provide a moss pole and bright indirect light
Root rot
Overwatering
Repot into fresh chunky substrate and reduce watering
A Species With Several Names
Philodendron domesticum has circulated under enough synonyms over the decades — P. tuxtlanum among them — that pinning down its exact history is harder than it should be for such a long-cultivated plant. 'Whipple Way', the unpredictable marble-variegated form named after a street in either Florida or California depending which account you read, is usually described as a sport of this species, but not every source agrees, and the original mother plant's exact provenance is genuinely uncertain. I've noted the connection here because it's the best-supported account I could find, not because it's settled fact.
