Philodendron 'Dean McDowell'

New leaves on Philodendron 'Dean McDowell' emerge tightly rolled before unfurling to reveal a velvety deep green surface with prominent pale primary venation — a combination believed to come from a cross between Philodendron gloriosum and Philodendron pastazanum, two widely grown ground-crawling species. It takes gloriosum's leaf surface and venation contrast and pastazanum's larger leaf potential, on a terrestrial rhizomatous plant that creeps along the substrate with feeder roots at each node rather than climbing. Selected for foliage quality, it suits collectors who prefer crawling philodendrons to the genus's more common climbing forms.

Native range

Horticultural cultivar; derived from tropical South American Philodendron parentage (P. gloriosum × P. pastazanum)

Classification

Genus

Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Type

Cultivar

Growth habit

Terrestrial crawling rhizome

Morphology

Leaf shape

Broadly cordateHeart-shaped foliage, featuring a rounded notch (sinus) where the leaf stem attaches. with deep sinus

Leaf length

40-80 cm

Leaf width

30-65 cm

Petiole colour

Upright, green

Venation

Pale prominent primary venation on velvety deep green blade

Texture

Velvety

Variegation

None

Growth habit

TerrestrialA plant that grows directly in the ground, rooting in soil rather than climbing trees or rocks., compact rhizome creeping along substrate with feeder roots at nodes