Imperial Red Philodendron

Imperial Red Philodendron (Philodendron 'Imperial Red') is the indoor plant to reach for when you want one bold shape rather than a tangle of foliage. It forms a self heading rosette about 1m tall and 1m across, and each new leaf unfurls a deep wine red before settling to glossy dark green. It holds that form without staking, climbing or trailing.

Why you'll love it

• New leaves arrive red. There is nearly always a burgundy leaf opening in the crown, so the plant carries colour without ever flowering.
• Self heading, so it stays tidy. No pole, no trellis and no trailing stems, just a neat rosette that fills a pot.
• It forgives dim rooms. Bright indirect light is ideal, but it holds condition in a darker corner better than most large leaved plants.
• The right size for a room. At about 1m each way it fills a corner or flanks a doorway without taking the room over.

Where it works best

Indoors. Living rooms, offices and hallways anywhere in the country, set back from a window rather than in direct sun. Inside, your climate stops mattering, which counts with a plant this tender.

Pots and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it lives outside year round in a shaded courtyard or under cover. Elsewhere it is a container plant that comes in for winter.

One caution. The leaves and sap are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep it out of reach in a home with animals that graze on foliage.

Growing Imperial Red Philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or full to part shade outdoors in tropical and subtropical gardens only. Direct sun scorches the leaves. It is frost tender, so anywhere colder it lives inside from autumn onward.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix opened up with extra perlite or bark. The pot needs a drainage hole, and empty the saucer after every water.

Water and feed. Water once the top 3cm to 4cm of mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. Yellowing lower leaves almost always mean too much water. A monthly liquid feed through spring and summer keeps the new leaves large.

Pruning and grooming. Wipe the leaves to keep them glossy. Cut spent leaves off at the base of the stalk rather than part way, and repot every two or three years.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in three sizes: 200mm pots in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, and single 300mm plants. The 200mm plants are young, carrying three or four leaves; a 300mm plant is already presentable in a floor pot.

Large leaves can arrive with a bent edge or bruise after transit, which is cosmetic rather than a fault. Expect new leaves within four to six weeks in warm weather. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete philodendron care guide
• Browse the indoor plant range
• How to keep indoor plants alive
• Plants for low light rooms

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Like other philodendrons it contains calcium oxalate crystals, which cause drooling, mouth irritation and vomiting if chewed. Keep it on a stand or in a room your pets do not use.

Why are the new leaves green instead of red?

Low light. The red pigment holds far longer in bright indirect light, so move the plant closer to a window, but out of direct sun.

How big will it actually get indoors?

About 1m tall and 1m wide, and it takes a few years to get there. Older listings quoting 2m describe plants grown in the open tropics.

Can it live outside?

Only in tropical and subtropical gardens, and only in shade. Elsewhere it stays a container plant that comes under cover for winter.