This large-leaved, easily grown philodendron makes a dramatic, tropical statement wherever it is used in the landscape, eventually developing a three- to four-foot-long, tree-like trunk and a spread of 8 to 10 feet (Fig. 1). The deeply divided, usually drooping, medium green leaves grow up to three feet long and 12 to 18 inches wide, appearing on long, smooth petioles. It can be grown outside in central and south Florida, and in a protected area in Gainesville or Jacksonville.
Figure 1. Selloum
General Information
Scientific name: Philodendron selloum
Pronunciation: fill-loe-DEN-drun sell-LOE-um
Common name(s): selloum
Family: Araceae
Plant type: shrub
USDA hardiness zones: 8B through 11 (Fig. 2)
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: mass planting; specimen; container or above-ground planter; foundation; accent; suitable for growing indoors
Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range
Figure 2. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Description
Height: 6 to 12 feet
Spread: 10 to 15 feet
Plant habit: round
Plant density: moderate
Growth rate: fast
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: spiral
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: undulate
Leaf shape: saggitate (arrow)
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: 18 to 36 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Figure 3. Foliage of selloum
Flower
Flower color: green
Flower characteristic: flowers periodically throughout the year; pleasant fragrance
Fruit
Fruit shape: unknown
Fruit length: unknown
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: green
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: showy; usually with one stem/trunk
Current year stem/twig color: brown
Current year stem/twig thickness: very thick
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant grows in the shade
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features and could be planted more
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
Use and Management
When given enough room to spread, selloum makes a handsome foundation or specimen planting and can also be used in large containers where it looks especially attractive at poolside.
Although appearing as if it would need deep shade, selloum actually grows quite well in full sun or partial shade and needs fairly rich, moisture-retentive soil to look its best. Most people planting this shrub forget how large it can grow.
The cultivar 'Lundii' is more compact in form.
Propagation is by division of the offshoots or from seed.
This document is FPS473, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
About the Authors
Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
