Philodendron giganteum

Philodendron giganteum lives up to its name with enormous, broadly heart-shaped leaves that can reach a metre or more in length on a well-established specimen. The thick, glossy blade sits on a stout, upright petiole strong enough to support its considerable weight, and mature plants develop real architectural presence as a floor specimen. In habitat it grows as a hemiepiphyte, often climbing tree trunks in humid forest before its leaves reach full size. Its scale and relatively straightforward care make it a favourite among collectors building a large-leaf statement plant collection.

Native range

Jamaica and the Greater Antilles.

Classification

Genus

Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Hemiepiphytic, upright

Morphology

Leaf shape

Broadly cordateHeart-shaped foliage, featuring a rounded notch (sinus) where the leaf stem attaches.

Leaf length

60-100+ cm

Leaf width

45-80 cm

Petiole colour

Stout, green

Venation

Prominent pinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein. veins

Texture

Thick, glossy, leathery

Variegation

N/A

Growth habit

Upright hemiepiphyticA plant that starts growing in soil but later ascends trees as a climber, supporting itself with aerial roots. climber