Philodendron xanadu Hope

Philodendron xanadu 'Hope' is a recent cultivar selected in the USA for its magnificent compound foliage, compact habit, and improved cold resistance, allowing it to be grown on a very sheltered patio or even in the ground in very mild regions, spared from frost. This variety forms a short trunk and develops large undulate and lobed leaves of a bright green colour. In theory, this plant is capable of regrowing from the stump after being damaged by frost. However, this regrowth occurs late in spring, at the risk of exhausting the plant. We advise you to grow this marvel in a large pot and protect it from frost in winter. It is an absolutely superb plant for the greenhouse or the house, and will create a lush decor on a patio.

Philodendron xanadu is a large perennial shrubby plant of the Araceae family. It is a seedling of Philodendron selloum that appeared in 1983 in an Australian nursery. Its parent is native to the tropical forests of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The 'Hope' cultivar is not a liana, but rather a bushy plant with a spreading habit that develops over time a greyish trunk of 80cm (32in) to 1m (3ft), marked by numerous foliar scars. Its growth rate is quite rapid. It produces at the tip of this trunk a cluster of very large petiolate leaves. An adult plant will reach an average height of 1.5m (5ft) with a diameter of 1m (3ft). Each heart-shaped leaf is deeply lobed with undulate edges. The lamina is light green and shiny. Flowering is rare in cultivation. It appears in the form of a spadix surrounded by a white-green spathe.

On a patio as well as in the house, Philodendron xanadu 'Hope' is an impressive yet easy-to-grow plant. It tolerates sunny exposures well but prefers partial shade, and its foliage only truly suffers below 0°C (32°F). It stands out as a focal point in a contemporary or exotic decor, whether planted on a patio in a large container or in a large, unheated, and very bright living room or dining room. This robust plant goes well with banana trees, Tetrapanax, Cycas, or arborescent ferns, whose magnificence recalls ancient forests.

Philodendron has the ability to partially eliminate toxic molecules such as formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, toluene, benzene, hexane, trichloroethylene, and ammonia in our homes.