''Philodendron hederaceum'', the heartleaf philodendron ( syn. ''Philodendron scandens'') is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Araceae The Araceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe (or leaf-like bract). A ...

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to Central America and the Caribbean which is common in the houseplant trade. ''Philodendron hederaceum'' var. ''hederaceum'', the "velvet philodendron," is a subspecies which is in the houseplant trade under its previous name of ''Philodendron micans''.

Description and cultivation

It is an

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

climber growing to , with heart-shaped glossy leaves to long, and occasionally spathes of white flowers in mature plants. With a minimum temperature requirement of , in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

regions it must be grown under glass or as a

houseplant A houseplant, sometimes known as a pot plant, potted plant, or an indoor plant, is an ornamental plant that is grown indoors. As such, they are found in places like residences and offices, mainly for decorative purposes. Common houseplants are us ...

. Under the synonym ''Philodendron scandens'' it has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit.

Toxicity

Parts of the plant are known to contain calcium oxalate crystals in varying concentrations. Although the plant is known to be toxic to mice and rats, the current literature is conflicting with regards to its toxicity in cats.Sellers, Sarah J. and King, Maralee and Aronson, Carl E. and Der Marderosian, Ara (1978). ''Toxocologic Assessment of Philodendron Oxycardium Schott (Araceae) in Domestic Cats''. Veterinary and Human Toxicology. Vol. 20, pp. 92-96, ISSN 0145-6296 Its possible toxic effects on humans are currently unknown although likely very mild if not harmless.Mrvos, Rita and Dean, Bonnie S. and Krenzelok, Edward P. (1991). Philodendron/Dieffenbachia Ingestions: Are They a Problem?. Clinical Toxicology,29:4, p. 485—491

References

External links

*

' *
Philodendron cordatum (hort.) info
' Flora of Central America Flora of the Caribbean House plants hederaceum {{Araceae-stub