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About Tree Philodendron

Tree Philodendron, also known as Lacy Tree Philodendron or by its reclassified name Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, is a magnificent self-heading aroid native to the tropical forests of Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay. Unlike climbing philodendrons, it forms a thick, trunk-like stem topped with a rosette of enormous, deeply lobed leaves that can span 3 feet across. Each leaf is intricately divided into multiple finger-like segments, creating a dramatic lacy effect. The plant reaches 6 to 15 feet tall and wide in tropical conditions. It produces large, fragrant inflorescences that heat up to over 100°F to attract scarab beetle pollinators — a remarkable case of thermogenesis in plants. Indoors, it makes a bold statement plant, tolerating lower light than many tropicals though preferring bright indirect light. It is drought-tolerant once established and remarkably adaptable. In frost-free regions, it is widely used as a landscape plant, creating a lush tropical understory effect.

• Air-purifying
• Tropical

How to care for Tree Philodendron

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At a Glance

Bloom time

Fragrance

Toxicity

History

Philodendron bipinnatifidum — recently reclassified by many authorities as Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, though the old name remains dominant in horticulture — is native to central and southern Brazil (the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest regions), Paraguay, northern Argentina, and Bolivia. It is a hemi-epiphytic tropical aroid that grows as a large rosette of deeply pinnately-lobed leaves — leaves reach 90 cm long on mature specimens — atop a thick aerial pseudo-trunk that develops with age; old specimens can form a true 2-3 meter tall self-supporting trunk covered with prominent leaf scars. Introduced to Western horticulture via 19th-century Brazilian plant collections, it became one of the defining tropical foliage plants of 20th-century interior design — particularly Mid-Century Modern (1950s-1970s) hotel lobbies, corporate atria, and upscale residences, where the dramatic tropical silhouette suited the International Style aesthetic. It is also among the tropical aroids known to exhibit thermogenesis: the spadix of its flowers can heat 10-15°C above ambient temperature, possibly to volatilize scent compounds for pollinator attraction.

Like all philodendrons it is toxic to pets due to calcium oxalate, though the species' arborescent growth habit makes it less commonly reached by dogs and cats than trailing philodendrons. Philodendron bipinnatifidum was first described in 1832 and has been a mainstay of tropical horticulture ever since. It was recently reclassified into the genus Thaumatophyllum (meaning 'wonder leaf'), though the old name remains widely used.

In its native Brazil, the plant grows as an understory species in the Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems. Its thermogenic flowers, which generate their own heat, were studied extensively by botanists as a remarkable example of plant physiology.

Symbolism & meaning

Related plants

More Philodendron plants

• Silver Leaf PhilodendronPhilodendron brandtianum
• PhilodendronPhilodendron brasil
• Blushing PhilodendronPhilodendron erubescens
• Philodendron gloriosumPhilodendron gloriosum

Plants with similar care

• Red BuckeyeAesculus pavia
• Philippine EvergreenAglaonema commutatum
• Blue BugleAjuga genevensis
• Pyramidal BugleAjuga pyramidalis

Frequently asked questions