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Winterbourn Philodendron

Philodendron xanadu (fil-oh-DEN-dron ZAH-nah-due)

Family: Araceae Unknown Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Xanadu philodendron thrives as a houseplant or in a warm-weather landscape. It was in the nursery trade long before it was given a formal species name. It is believed to be native to southern Brazil and Paraguay. This plant is a member of the Arum family (Araceae). This is a low-maintenance plant and if planted outdoors, prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, rich, well-drained soils. It is hardy in zones 9b to 11b. Indoors, it prefers bright but indirect light, some humidity, and temperature ranges of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Yellowing of the leaves will occur if overwatered. Container plants may need to be repotted every 1 to 2 years. It has a dense, mounding, spreading habit, and measures 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide. The leaves are large, glossy, green, deeply dissected and lobed, and are born on long petioles. If grown outside, the bloom is a dark red spathe that surrounds a creamy white spadix. Indoor plants typically do not bloom. It also has large aerial roots and stout, unbranched, red stems. This plant is sometimes given the cultivar name 'Winterbourn'. This cultivar name has not been registered with the International Aroid Society, and plants with this name appear to have no features that distinguish the cultivar from the species. When planted outdoors in the landscape, consider this plant as a tropical accent for lining a walkway or driveway, along the edge of a patio or deck, or for foundation planting. In cooler climates, it is suitable as a houseplant. Quick ID Hints: evergreen, dense, compact, spreading, mounding habit glossy, deeply lobed, green foliage on long petioles leaves measure up to 12 inches long and 7 inches wide if planted outdoors bloom is a dark red spathe with creamy white spadix Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Xanadu philodendron may be susceptible to aphids, mealy bugs, scale, thrips, and spider mites. This plant is vulnerable to leaf spots from fungi, and overwatering should be avoided. VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee. More information on Philodendron .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 51 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Houseplant; Poisonous
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Mounding; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Glossy; Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are large and measure up to 12 to 18 inches in length and up to 7 to 14 inches wide. They are green, deeply lobed, glossy, and appear on long petioles.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spadix
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
When planted outdoors, the plant has a seasonal bloom that is a dark red spathe surrounding a creamy white spadix. The inflorescence measures 4 to 5 inches tall. Indoor plants seldom bloom.
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stems are stout, red, and unbranched.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
southern Brazil & Paraguay
Play value
Easy to Grow
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio; Walkways
Design feature
Border; Foundation Planting; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#tropical #houseplant #container plant #interiorscape #mounding #spreading #dense growth #problem for dogs #foundation planting #border planting #warm climates #poisonous leaves #problem for cats #contact dermatitis #poisonous if ingested #problem for children #evergreen #deer resistant #landscape plant sleuths course
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Banded Greenhouse Thrips
Problems
Contact Dermatitis; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs
Resistant to
Deer
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
If the leaves or stems are eaten or chewed, swelling of the lips, tongue, and mouth can occur. It may also cause mouth pain and drooling. The sap can cause skin irritation.
Toxic principle
Calcium oxalate
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Seeds; Stems; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.