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Full Specimen Plate

Philodendron 'El Choco Red'

El Choco Red Philodendron

LightHigh
LightBright indirect light
HumidityHigh
HumidityHigh humidity (65-85%)
TemperatureWarm
Temperature18-28°C
SizeVery Large
SizeLarge (with support, leaves 40cm+ at maturity)
Growth RateMedium
Growth RateModerate
DifficultyModerate
DifficultyRewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
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HybridNamed for the Chocó bioregion of Colombia and Ecuador; selection maintained in collector cultivation

7cm Target Price

£13.00

EstimatedFewer than 3 recorded sales. The figure comes from retail stock or the genus price tier, so treat it as a rough guide.

Target Price Guide

Select Plant Size

7cm Target Price

Base

£13.00

Sold-out askBased on the last known asking price of a sold-out listing, since no live retail stock or recent sales data is available yet; treat this as a rough guide only.

Based on the last known asking price of a sold-out listing, since no live retail stock or recent sales data is available yet; treat this as a rough guide only.

About this target price: The figure above is the current market rate for an established 7cm whole pot specimen. Other sizes show their own recorded sale price where enough recent sales exist, or an estimate calculated proportionally from this one otherwise.
0Sold Matches

Based on current UK retail stock — no UK sold listings in the last 90 days.

See full auction data ↓
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 target 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.

Philodendron 'El Choco Red' Morphology

leaf ShapeGiant cordateHeart-shaped foliage, featuring a rounded notch (sinus) where the leaf stem attaches. (heart-shaped)
leaf Length30-55 cm
leaf Width25-45 cm
petiole ColorDeep wine-red
venationDeeply impressed, pale green against a darker blade
textureVelvety upper surface, matte red underside
variegationN/A
growth HabitClimbing hemiepiphyteA plant that starts growing in soil but later ascends trees as a climber, supporting itself with aerial roots. with aerial roots at nodes

About Philodendron 'El Choco Red'

Philodendron 'El Choco Red' takes its name from the Chocó bioregion spanning Colombia and Ecuador, one of the wettest and most biodiverse rainforest zones on the continent, and shows the giant, deeply veined heart-shaped leaves typical of Philodendron from that region. The upper leaf surface is a glossy, velvety deep green, while the underside and petioles carry a rich wine-red wash that becomes especially vivid on new growth before darkening as the leaf matures. It climbs as a hemiepiphyte given a sturdy support, eventually producing genuinely enormous leaves on mature specimens. The combination of scale and colour contrast has made it one of the more frequently name-dropped Philodendron hybrids in current collector circles.

Native Range

Colombia

Market Hub

Philodendron 'El Choco Red' Sold Prices & Live Market

What the Target Price above is based on: eBay sold prices by plant size, live listings, and retailer stock.

No eBay sales recorded yet. Sold listings are collected as they appear on eBay.

Before You Buy

Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing

  • Check that roots are firm and pale; avoid plants with black, slimy roots
  • Inspect the leaf underside for the characteristic wine-red wash, which distinguishes this hybrid from plain green giant-leaved Philodendron relatives
  • Confirm the plant has at least one healthy node with visible growth

Propagation Guide

How to Propagate Philodendron 'El Choco Red'

Propagation 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

Single-node cuttings root readily in moist sphagnum. As with most large-leaved Philodendron hybrids, a support to climb is needed to reach mature leaf size.

Care Guide

Philodendron 'El Choco Red' Care Guide & Growing Conditions

Substrate

High-porosity mix: 50% perlite, 30% orchid bark, 20% coco coir.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top 3-4 cm of substrate is dry. Ensure free drainage.

Humidity

65-85% preferred for the best leaf size and red colouration.

Fertilising

Balanced liquid fertiliser at quarter strength every two weeks in spring and summer.

Repotting

Every 12-18 months, or when roots circle the base of the pot.

Common Problems

Problem

Small, pale leaves with weak red underside colour

Cause

Insufficient light

Fix

Move to brighter indirect light

Problem

Root rot

Cause

Overwatering or poor drainage

Fix

Repot into fresh, well-draining substrate and reduce watering

Field Reference

In the Wild

Field Notes
15 July 2026

Scale and Colour from the Chocó

Named for one of the wettest rainforest regions on the planet, this hybrid delivers exactly what the name promises: real scale once mature, and a red underside that shows clearly whenever a leaf catches the light from below. Worth noting this is a collector-maintained hybrid selection, not a formally described species, so expect some variation between vendors' stock. Give it a substantial support early; the leaf size on a well-grown mature specimen is the whole point.

Written at AroidAtlas research station— Aroid Atlas