Narrow Lobed Philodendron

Narrow Lobed Philodendron (Philodendron stenolobum) is grown for its long, deeply cut leaves held on tall stalks above a thick creeping stem. It reaches about 2m tall and 1.2m wide indoors or in a sheltered warm garden, and the leaf shape gives a room structure that softer foliage cannot. Like all philodendrons it is toxic to cats and dogs, so place it accordingly.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves with real shape. Deeply lobed and narrow, carried on long stalks, so one plant fills a corner without looking like a hedge in a pot.
• It forgives an imperfect routine. Warmth and bright indirect light are the main requirements, and it takes a missed watering better than most large leaved plants.
• A visible trunk over time. The thick creeping stem builds character as it ages and can be staked upright or allowed to lean across a wide pot.
• Heat and humidity suit it. A Brazilian rainforest plant, so a steamy summer is a benefit rather than a problem.

Where it works best

Indoors. Set it a metre or two back from a bright window, out of direct sun, and allow for a plant that eventually fills a 2m corner.

Pots and containers. Use a pot 400mm or wider with a chunky, free draining mix. The creeping stem needs room to travel, and a shallow bowl will not hold it.

Courtyards and balconies. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it lives outside year round in dappled shade, sheltered from wind that tears the leaves.

Growing Narrow Lobed Philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, dappled shade outdoors. It is frost tender, so it lives outside year round only in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens; cool temperate districts should treat it as an indoor plant. Direct midday sun burns the leaves.

Soil. A chunky aroid mix: potting mix opened up with orchid bark and perlite. Air around the roots matters more than richness, and it needs repotting every two to three years.

Water and feed. Keep the mix evenly moist from spring to autumn, letting the top 3cm to 5cm dry between waterings, then ease right off in winter. A balanced liquid fertiliser monthly through the warm months is plenty.

Pruning. Remove old yellowing leaves at the base of the stalk. When the stem outgrows its pot, cut the leading section below a root node and replant it, since cuttings root readily in warm weather.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes are grown, 300mm and 400mm pots, and both are currently on backorder, so allow time for the next crop. A 300mm plant is established with several full sized leaves; the 400mm carries more stem and more height on day one.

Large soft leaves crease and can tear in transit, and one or two may yellow and drop in the fortnight after arrival. That is settling in, not a fault. Keep it warm, bright and on the dry side for two weeks. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full philodendron care guide.
• Browse the wider indoor plant range.
• See companions in tropical plants.
• Find more options for balconies and courtyards.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting if chewed. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew foliage, and of small children.

How much light does it need indoors?

Bright indirect light, a metre or two inside a north or east facing window. In low light the stalks stretch, the leaves come through smaller and the lobing becomes shallow.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Usually too much water, or a pot without free drainage, especially in winter when growth slows. Check that the mix dries slightly between waterings and that no water sits in the saucer.