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Full Specimen Plate

Philodendron 'Xanadu'

Xanadu Philodendron

LightHigh
LightMedium to bright indirect light
HumidityMedium
HumidityAverage household humidity
TemperatureWarm
Temperature16-27°C
SizeMedium
SizeCompact (60-100 cm across)
Growth RateMedium
Growth RateModerate
DifficultyEasy
DifficultyForgiving of missed waterings, average home humidity, and imperfect light. A solid pick for beginners or low-fuss collections.
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CultivarHorticultural selection developed in Australia from Brazilian Philodendron bipinnatifidum-type seedlings; now reclassified with Selloum into the genus Thaumatophyllum, though still sold almost universally under the Philodendron trade name.

7cm Target Price

£18.00

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

£18.00

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

Calculated from recent online auction sales and retail shop prices

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.

Thaumatophyllum xanadu (syn. Philodendron xanadu) Morphology

leaf ShapeDeeply pinnately lobed, arrow-shaped in outline
leaf Length30-50 cm
leaf Width25-40 cm
petiole ColorGreen
venationPinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein., prominent
textureGlossy, leathery
variegationN/A
growth HabitDense self-heading mound, no climbing stem

About Thaumatophyllum xanadu (syn. Philodendron xanadu)

Xanadu is a compact, dwarf relative of the much larger Tree Philodendron ('Selloum'), selected specifically for its manageable size, reaching only around a metre across even at maturity, compared to Selloum's several metres. It forms a dense, self-heading mound with no climbing stem at all, sending out deeply lobed, glossy dark green leaves from a slowly thickening central crown. Its compact size, tolerance of low light, and undemanding care have made it one of the most widely planted landscape and interior-scape aroids worldwide, equally at home in a shopping-centre atrium or a garden border in frost-free climates.

Native Range

Australia

Market Hub

Thaumatophyllum xanadu (syn. Philodendron xanadu) 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

  • Look for a dense, full crown with several actively unfurling leaves rather than a leggy, sparse one
  • Check the substrate isn't waterlogged; this species is generally hardy but resents sitting in soggy soil
  • Widely available and inexpensive, so be cautious of inflated prices for an ordinary specimen
  • Confirm the root ball is well established if buying a smaller division

Propagation Guide

How to Propagate Thaumatophyllum xanadu (syn. Philodendron xanadu)

Propagation Difficulty
Easy?Forgiving of missed waterings, average home humidity, and imperfect light. A solid pick for beginners or low-fuss collections.
Time to Establish

2-4 months

True From Cuttings
Yes

Cultivar character is preserved through vegetative cuttings

Mature clumps can be divided at the crown, each division needing its own roots. Basal offsets can also be separated once they have established their own root system.

Care Guide

Thaumatophyllum xanadu (syn. Philodendron xanadu) Care Guide & Growing Conditions

Substrate

Well-draining mix: 50% potting compost, 30% perlite, 20% orchid bark.

Watering

Water when the top 4-5 cm of substrate is dry. Tolerant of some inconsistency once established.

Humidity

Adapts well to average household or outdoor humidity; not a demanding species.

Fertilising

Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength monthly during spring and summer.

Repotting

Every 1-2 years, or when the crown outgrows its container; Xanadu stays compact but its root mass is substantial.

Common Problems

Problem

Small, sparse leaves

Cause

Insufficient light

Fix

Move to a brighter spot with indirect light; leaf size and lobing improve markedly with more light

Problem

Yellowing lower leaves

Cause

Overwatering or natural older-leaf shedding

Fix

Check substrate moisture before watering; some lower-leaf loss is normal as the plant matures

Field Reference

In the Wild

Field Notes
2 April 2023

The Sensible Sibling

Where the Tree Philodendron sprawls across an entire conservatory given the chance, Xanadu was bred with restraint in mind, the same deeply lobed, glossy foliage in a package that stays under a metre across for most of its life. It is, frankly, everywhere: shopping centres, office lobbies, motorway service station planters. There are worse fates for a plant than being this reliable. A fine choice for anyone who wants the tropical, architectural look of a Selloum without eventually needing to rehome a small tree.

Written at AroidAtlas research station— Aroid Atlas

Also in: Arborescent (Meconostigma)

Self-heading species from subgenus Meconostigma that grow a visible trunk rather than climbing, eventually reaching tree-like proportions.