Heartleaf Philodendron

Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron cordatum) is the trailing indoor plant that actually copes with a dim corner, holding deep green heart shaped leaves on vines that run to about 2m and spread roughly 1m. It is fast, unfussy and quick to forgive a missed week. Reach for it when a room needs greenery rather than a feature specimen.

Why you'll love it

• It handles low light properly. Solid green leaves gather more light than variegated foliage, so it holds up in a hallway where a patterned plant goes thin and pale.
• Fast enough to fill a space. Vines run to 2m and spread about 1m, so a modest plant becomes a full trail inside a year.
• Trail it or climb it. Let it hang from a shelf, or run it up a moss pole where the leaves grow noticeably larger.
• Easy to multiply. Any cutting with a node roots in a glass of water within a fortnight, so one plant eventually furnishes the rest of the house.

Where it works best

Indoors. Shelves, hallways, bathrooms and offices anywhere in the country, because indoors your climate stops mattering. It is the plant for a room the window barely reaches.

Balconies and courtyards. Happy under cover in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so southern and inland gardeners should bring it inside for winter.

Homes with pets. Said plainly: philodendron is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Hang it high or shelve it out of reach rather than standing it at floor level.

Growing heartleaf philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Medium to bright indirect light gives the best growth. It survives genuinely low light better than most houseplants, though the vines stretch and the leaves space out. Keep it clear of direct sun, which scorches the thin foliage.

Soil. A good indoor potting mix with added perlite or bark to hold air around the roots. The pot must drain. Repot every second year, moving up one size, before the mix compacts and growth stalls.

Water and feed. Water once the top 2cm of mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. It prefers to stay lightly moist, never standing in water. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly from spring to autumn.

Pruning. Cut a vine just past a leaf node and the plant branches from that point. Taking a third off in spring is what turns a stringy plant into a full one, and the trimmings become new plants.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as 140mm plants in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six and 250mm in packs of three. The 140mm plants are young with short trails and the value choice if you are filling several rooms. The larger pots already trail and go straight into a hanging basket or a decorative pot with drainage.

A curled or yellowed leaf after transit is normal rather than a fault. Give it an indirect spot and a fortnight to settle before expecting new growth. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete philodendron care guide
• Browse the house plant range
• Indoor plant tips for beginners
• Pots that suit indoor plants

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals that are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, causing mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting. Keep it hanging or well above reach in a home with pets.

How is it different from a pothos?

The leaves are thinner, softer and a deeper green, with a more pointed heart shape. It also tolerates lower light and prefers to stay lightly moist, where a pothos would rather dry out between drinks.

Why is my plant all bare stem?

Too little light and no pruning, usually together. Move it somewhere brighter but still indirect, then cut the vines back by a third and push the cuttings into the same pot.