Imperial Green Philodendron

Imperial Green Philodendron (Philodendron 'Imperial Green') is a self heading philodendron, which means it builds a neat rosette from a central crown instead of climbing. It settles at roughly 900mm tall and equally wide, with broad glossy leaves held on short stems. There is no pole to hide and no trailing growth to tidy.

Why you'll love it

• It keeps its own shape. Leaves radiate from a central crown, so it never needs a moss pole, a stake or tying in.
• Broad glossy foliage. The leaves are large and deep green with a high shine, which reads well in low indoor light where matt foliage looks flat.
• Undemanding indoors. Bright indirect light is ideal, but it holds condition in a dimmer corner better than most large leaved plants.
• Slow enough to stay in scale. Growth is measured rather than rapid, so it suits a spot where you need a plant to stay the size you bought it.

Where it works best

Indoors. Its natural home. A floor pot in a living room, an office corner or a wide hallway all suit the rosette shape, anywhere in the country.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. It can live outdoors in a sheltered frost free spot in tropical and subtropical gardens, under a verandah or in filtered shade rather than open sun.

One caution. Like all philodendrons the leaves and stems are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so place it out of reach in a home with pets.

Growing Imperial Green Philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the biggest leaves. Avoid direct sun through glass, which scorches them. Outdoors it is frost tender and suited only to tropical and subtropical gardens.

Soil. A free draining indoor potting mix, ideally opened up with bark or perlite, in a pot with a working drainage hole. Wet mix around the crown is the usual cause of failure.

Water and feed. Water when the top three centimetres are dry, soak it through, then empty the saucer. Water less through winter. A half strength liquid fertiliser monthly across spring and summer is plenty.

Grooming. Remove old lower leaves at the base as they yellow. Wipe the leaves occasionally so dust does not dull them, and repot every two to three years.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 125mm packs of ten, 175mm packs of six, 200mm packs of six, 250mm packs of three, and single 300mm and 400mm pots. The smaller sizes are young plants with a handful of leaves, suited to bulk planting or growing on. The 300mm and 400mm plants already have the full rosette shape.

Philodendrons travel well, though a leaf or two may bruise after transit, which is not a fault. Expect it to hold still for a month before pushing new leaves. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete philodendron care guide
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• How to keep your indoor plants alive

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Philodendrons contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting if chewed. Rarely serious, but keep the plant off floor level if your pet chews foliage.

How much light does it actually need?

Bright indirect light is the target: a metre or two back from a window that never gets harsh afternoon sun. It survives dimmer rooms with smaller leaves and slower growth.

Why are the lower leaves yellowing?

A yellow leaf at the base every so often is normal ageing. Several at once usually means the mix is staying too wet, so check that the pot drains and let the surface dry before the next water.