About
Philodendron pedatum, the oak leaf philodendron, is a climbing aroid of wet tropical forests from Colombia to southeastern Brazil, with lobed leaves that grow more divided with age.
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
A climber whose lobed leaves enlarge and gain more side lobes as the plant matures.
Distribution & habitat
Wet tropical forests of South America from Colombia to southeastern Brazil.
Cultivation notes
Source of named cultivars such as 'Glad Hands', and a parent, with P. squamiferum, of the hybrid P. 'Florida'.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Colombia, Brazil
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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