Philodendron bipinnatifidum 'Selloum'

Philodendron bipinnatifidum (sold almost universally under its old cultivar name 'Selloum') is a massive, self-heading terrestrial aroid native to South America's subtropical forests. Unlike most Philodendron, it never climbs: instead it slowly builds a thick, semi-woody trunk at ground level, from which enormous, deeply pinnately-lobed leaves radiate on long petioles. Given years and space it can spread several metres across, making it a favourite for large conservatories, atriums, and frost-free gardens rather than windowsills. Despite its eventual scale it is remarkably undemanding, tolerating a wide range of light and, once established outdoors, brief cool spells that would kill more tender aroids.

Native range

Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina

Classification

Genus

Philodendron

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Self-heading, non-climbing, thick trunk-forming

Morphology

Leaf shape

Deeply bipinnately lobed, very large arrow-shaped outline

Leaf length

60-100 cm

Leaf width

50-90 cm

Petiole colour

Green

Venation

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

Texture

Matte to semi-glossy, leathery

Variegation

N/A

Growth habit

Self-heading, forms a thick low trunk with age