About
Philodendron mamei is a creeping, ground-dwelling aroid from the eastern Andes of Ecuador, long grown as a houseplant for its dark leaves marked with grey-green spots.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Toxic to cats, dogs and horses: insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause mouth pain and swelling, drooling, difficulty swallowing and, in cats and dogs, vomiting (ASPCA, for philodendrons). General guidance for the genus
- People
- Harmful if eaten: calcium oxalate crystals cause pain and swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue and throat; the sap can irritate skin. General guidance for the genus
- Light
- Bright indirect light; direct sun can scorch the leaves. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged; overwatering leads to root rot. General guidance for the genus
- Humidity
- Prefers high humidity but adapts to average indoor levels; a humidifier or pebble tray helps in dry rooms. General guidance for the genus
- Temperature
- About 18–29 °C (65–85 °F); keep away from cold draughts. General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Moist, well-drained mix rich in organic matter. General guidance for the genus
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings or layering. General guidance for the genus
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender; grown outdoors only in USDA zones 10a–12a, elsewhere as a houseplant. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
Terrestrial with prostrate, creeping stems and heart-shaped, matte dark green leaves spotted grey-green.
Distribution & habitat
Eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador at about 730–1,830 m. It has become invasive in the Cook Islands and Society Islands.
History & etymology
First collected by Europeans in 1882 and cultivated as a houseplant ever since.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Ecuador
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Temperature
- About 18–29 °C (65–85 °F); keep away from cold draughts.
- Humidity
- Prefers high humidity but adapts to average indoor levels; a humidifier or pebble tray helps in dry rooms.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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