Philodendron pastazanum

Unlike most collector philodendrons, Philodendron pastazanum spreads horizontally rather than climbing — a stout rhizome creeps along the substrate, feeder roots extending into the organic matter below, while upright petioles carry large, broadly cordate leaves in matte deep green with a broad open sinus and clear pale venation. Native to humid lowland forest across western Amazonia in Ecuador and Peru, its leaf size and terrestrial spreading habit suit it well to wide, low containers rather than a moss pole. It's also a parent of the hybrid 'Dean McDowell', passing on its size and broad leaf character to one of the more widely grown crawling hybrids in the hobby.

Native range

Ecuador to Peru (humid western Amazonian lowland forest)

Classification

Genus

Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Terrestrial crawling rhizome

Morphology

Leaf shape

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

Leaf length

40-80 cm

Leaf width

35-70 cm

Petiole colour

Long, upright, green

Venation

Clear pale primary venation on matte green blade

Texture

Matte, moderately coriaceous

Variegation

None

Growth habit

Stout horizontal rhizome with feeder roots, spreading laterally