Philodendron 'Black Cardinal'

Black Cardinal is a self-heading Philodendron cultivar bred from Philodendron erubescens lines, grown for foliage that darkens markedly with maturity: new leaves unfurl a deep burgundy-red and age toward an almost black-green, glossy and richly coloured. Like its erubescens relatives, it forms a compact, upright rosette rather than climbing, and its dark colouring sets it apart as an accent plant against lighter foliage. It is widely available through tissue culture and priced accessibly across UK retailers.

Native range

Horticultural cultivar, self-heading Philodendron hybrid group (Philodendron erubescens parentage).

Classification

Genus

Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Type

Cultivar

Growth habit

Self-heading, upright rosette

Morphology

Leaf shape

Broad ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base. to elongated-heart shaped

Leaf length

25-40 cm

Leaf width

15-25 cm

Petiole colour

Dark burgundy

Venation

PinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein., understated

Texture

Glossy, leathery

Variegation

None (very dark, near-black mature foliage rather than variegation)

Growth habit

Compact upright rosette, self-heading, no climbing or trailing