| Regno | Plantae |
| Sottoregno | Tracheobionta |
| Superdivisione | Spermatophyta |
| Divisione | Magnoliophyta |
| Classe | Liliopsida |
| Ordine | Alismatales |
| Famiglia | Araceae |
| Sottofamiglia | Aroideae |
| Genere | Philodendron |
| Specie | Philodendron scandens |
Philodendron scandens is a tropical aroid in the family Araceae, grown as a climbing or self-heading foliage houseplant; sap is mildly toxic.
Bright indirect light produces the best growth for both climbing (e.g. Philodendron hederaceum) and self-heading (e.g. Philodendron gloriosum, P. bipinnatifidum) forms. Tolerates medium light but leaves become smaller and more widely spaced. Variegated cultivars (e.g. 'Brasil', 'Lemon Lime') need brighter light to maintain their colour. Avoid direct sun.
Allow the top 2–4 cm of soil to dry between waterings, then water thoroughly. Philodendron prefers consistent moderate moisture rather than a true dry cycle. Yellow leaves on lower stems are the most common sign of overwatering; drooping with dry soil signals underwatering. Reduce frequency in winter.
Well-draining, aerated mix: 40% potting compost, 30% perlite, 30% orchid bark. Good root aeration is important — Philodendron is epiphytic in the wild and benefits from a chunkier mix.
Optimal 18–27 °C; minimum 13 °C. Moderate to high humidity (50–70%) promotes larger leaves with longer internodes. Standard indoor humidity is adequate for survival, but a humidifier significantly improves growth quality.
Feed every 2–4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Reduce to monthly in autumn, stop in winter. A fertilizer with added calcium supports large leaf development.
Climbing Philodendrons (heartleaf, Brasil, etc.) produce larger, more mature leaves when given a moss pole or rough support to climb — direct aerial roots into the moist pole. Self-heading forms need no support but benefit from having the outer dead leaves removed regularly. All Philodendrons contain calcium oxalate and are toxic to pets and humans if ingested.
The most common method for propagating Philodendron is by stem cuttings. This involves cutting a healthy stem and rooting it in water or soil.
Some Philodendron species can also be propagated by division, especially those with clumping growth habits.