Leafy beauties
These shiny, no-frills foliage will add a burst of colour to your home, writes Stephanie Choo
PHILODENDRONS are known to be one of the most beautiful foliage plants on the planet. Easy to grow and a classic keep for homes, they come in different variations. Bird’s nest philodendrons are the non-climbing type which are upright growing and have a mounding growth habit. The plant is also known as mounding philodendron.
Modern plant breeding technique has made it possible for us to tend to and enjoy these elegant beauties, which are man-made hybrids of several philodendron species.
HYBRID HEAVEN
Developed in the 1980s, bird’s nest philodendrons or Philodendron hybrids have genes of P. auriculatum, P. bipinnatifitum, P. selloum and P. deflexum. These are species belonging to the Aroid family, Araceae.
The hybrids bear inflorescences just like any flowering aroids. Each bloom consists of a spathe and a spadix. The spathe is the sheathing bracteal leaf that surrounds the spadix — a floral spike with a fleshy axis.
Bird’s nest philodendrons are clumpforming herbaceous perennials that produce abundant broad lustrous leaves in various striking colours. They are selfheaders as they have leaves that grow closely together along a single stem to provide the support needed for the plant to grow more upright. Most are about 60cm tall and wide.
RICH IN COLOUR
Generally grown as foliage plants in gardens and as houseplants, many of these low-growing hybrid philodendrons have Bird’s nest philodendrons are one of the easiest plants to keep at home as they need very little light.
The Prince of Orange will add a splash of colour to your garden.
levels. They do well under fluorescent lights or office lights and will grow faster in higher light intensities. To keep bird’s nest philodendrons thriving and looking presentable inside, find a space big enough to accommodate huge pots. These hybrids need to be planted into sturdy planters to keep them from tipping over.
You can display the potted plants on the floor, table or pedestal, depending on their size. Enjoy the glossy broad leaves of bird’s nest philodendron as they add an instant splash of colour to the room.
FOR SHADY OUTDOOR CONDITIONS
In the garden, bird’s nest philodendrons
contribute bold textures to understorey plantings and a touch of the tropics to the landscape. They can be used as ground cover or accent shrubs to brighten up the shady areas due to trees or buildings.
PROPOGATION
• Settle the plants in fertile well-draining
soil.
• Water and feed with a balanced fertiliser
regularly.
• After some time, cut back the plant if necessary or provide a stake for the plant to lean on. Try propagating them using their off-shoots or through air-layering.
Bird’s nest philodendrons have beautiful lustrous, broad leaves.