General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Plant Height: 10-15 feet
Plant Spread: 10-15 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Broadleaf
Fruit: Showy
Edible to birds
Other: Berries white or yellow when ripe.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: 6"-12"
Over 12"
Flower Time: Year Round
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Bog gardening
Uses: Provides winter interest
Medicinal Herb
Edible Parts: Fruit
Eating Methods: Cooked
Resistances: Tolerates dry shade
Humidity tolerant
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous
Roots are poisonous
Fruit is poisonous
Other: All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus.
Propagation: Seeds: Needs specific temperature: 68ºF-75ºF
Other info: Remove seeds from berry which contains chemicals that inhibit germination.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Layering
Offsets
Pollinators: Beetles
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Suitable for hanging baskets
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Tree Philodendron
  • Split Leaf Philodendron
  • Cut-Leaf Philodendron
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
  • Synonym: Philodendron bipinnatifidum
  • Synonym: Philodendron selloum

Photo Gallery
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2023-05-26
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum P. Selloum plants are over 30 year
Location: Plant almost blocking my front door, a Lowe’s purchase, planted in a large pot about 4 years ago
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2023-05-26
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum P. Selloum
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2023-09-14
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2022-11-01

Date: Summer 2011
Location: Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Date: 02/25/2023
Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2021-01-13
Location: My garden
Date: 2020-06-16
Newest leaf on plant by front door
Location: Hood, Alabama 
Date: 2022-11-12
Photo by AnnaZ
Photo by AnnaZ
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-05-06
Spathe and Spadix
Photo by piksihk
Location: Bradenton, Florida
Date: 2011-03-19
PHILODENDRON SELLOUM (Spilt leaf)
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2021-03-28
Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2021-01-13
Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2021-09-13
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-03
Location: In my garden
Date: 2008-06-23
Location: NE., Fl.
Date: 2013-10-23
Location: Coastal San Diego County
Location: Opp, AL  Z8b
Date: 2022-12-27
freeze-ruined foliage, limp stems & discolored leaves
Location: Tiki Island, Galveston
Date: 2013-12-20
Location: My garden
Date: 2018-04-14
Had this at least 12-14 years now in same pot
Location: San Antonio Riverwalk, Tx 
Date: 2013-03-11
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2015-05-04
My two trees aged over 20 years old. They are trimmed often.
Location: Quad Cities Botanical Garden, Rock Island, Il.
Date: 7-1-12
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2013-05-30
Dawn and dusk these blooms fill the air with such a sweet enticin
Location: Fairfax, VA | August, 2022
Date: 2022-08-15
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-05-09
Photo by sedumzz

Date: September 12, 2011
Bark & Roots
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-09-24
Young leaves are a bright lime-green shade

Date: September 12, 2011
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-03-14
Location: The Natural State (Arkansas)
Date: 2021-10-12
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-04
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-04
Photo by sedumzz
Photo by sedumzz

Date: 2017-11-13
Photo by lisam0313

Date: 2015-01-27
Location: Royal Botanical Gardens, Burlington, ON, Canada
Date: 2014-06-05
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-10-19
Location: my garden, Florida
Date: 2018-07-04

Date: 2015-01-22
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Date: 2012-11-15

Date: September 12, 2011

Date: 2013-01-17
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Date: 2016-02-20
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Date: 2016-06-30
Location: my garden
Date: 2016-10-22
Photo by wren
Location: Cypress Gardens, Florida
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2020-07-22
Juvenile plant
Photo by Vesnula
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2015-05-04
This plant is over 20 years old
Location: Biltmore, Asheville, NC
Date: 2014-03-02
  • Uploaded by bob
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-27
Location: Quad Cities Botanical Garden, Rock Island, Il.
Date: 2012-07-02
Location: Quad Cities Botanical Garden, Rock Island, Il.
Date: 2012-07-02

Date: September 12, 2011

Date: September 12, 2011

Date: September 12, 2011

Date: May 19, 2010

Date: April 22, 2011
Spadix of Tree Philodendron
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-09-24
New leaf unfurling

Date: June 2011

Date: August 1, 2010
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-08-01
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Date: 2016-08-16
Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Date: 2015-11-22
Photo by purpleinopp
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-07-19
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-07-12
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (Mobot) in St Louis
Date: 2016-06-18

Date: January 4, 2011
Showing cold damage after 26ºF temperatures
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 6:59 PM concerning plant:
    Tree Philodendron is one of the hardiest of all Philos, but it does get big, growing up to fifteen feet tall and wide! It has single unbranched stems with large, many lobed, 3 ft. long leaves. Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum prefers bright light, warmth and humidity.
Plant Events from our members
MySecretIslandGarden On July 30, 2022 Maintenance performed
Taming the beast. 6 or 7 young plants are growing around the mommas.
MySecretIslandGarden On June 2, 2022 Bloomed
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
This does not appear to be Monstera by plantladylin Mar 1, 2018 4:52 PM 1
This does not appear to be P. bipennifolium by plantladylin Mar 19, 2018 4:15 PM 6
About to blow? by purpleinopp May 11, 2023 11:57 AM 2

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page