Introduction

This dark green philodendron has 6 to 8 inch wide leaves which are 18 inches long. Flask philodendron is well suited to use as an accent or specimen planting or in mass as a ground cover or low shrub. It would be hard to find a small plant with a coarser texture. Plant on 3 to 4 foot centers in a mass planting to create a solid, dark green, two-foot-tall ground cover, or as a single specimen in a small-scale garden.

General Information

Scientific name: Philodendron martianum

Pronunciation: fill-loe-DEN-drun mar-shee-AY-num

Common name(s): flask philodendron

Family: Araceae

Plant type: perennial

USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Figure 2)

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: mass planting; container or above-ground planter; accent; foundation; edging; suitable for growing indoors

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 2 to 3 feet

Plant habit: upright; spreading

Plant density: open

Growth rate: slow

Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: spiral

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 12 to 18 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: green

Flower characteristic: flowers periodically throughout the year

Fruit

Fruit shape: round

Fruit length: unknown

Fruit cover: fleshy

Fruit color: unknown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: usually with one stem/trunk

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: very thick

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in the shade

Soil tolerances: alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: poor

Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

It grows best in deep shade locations in well-drained soil and is somewhat salt-tolerant. It can bring to life a dark area of the landscape with an overstory of trees. Normally used for making crosses in the nursery trade, flask philodendron may be hard to come by in retail garden centers.

Propagation is by seed or cuttings.

Pests and Diseases

Pest problems include mites, scale, and mealy bugs.

The leaves are susceptible to fungal leaf spot diseases.