Photograph comparing Philodendron bipinnatifidum "Elephant Ear Philodendron" left and Monstera deliciosa "Mexican Breadfruit" (formerly known as Philodendron pertusum) on the right. Philodendron bipinnatifidum seeds and Monstera deliciosa "Mexican Breadfruit" seeds are available from the GreenDealer collection of tropical houseplant seeds. Photograph of Monstera deliciosa, "Mexican Breadfruit" formerly known as Philodendron pertusum is shown below and Philodendron bipinnatifidum is shown in the photograph at right. Photographs above were taken at Kohn Conservatory in Eden Park, Cincinatti, Ohio in May 1999.

Selloum Philodendron
Philodendron selloum

Both of the plants are compared here because of their similar appearance and because both have been referred to as "Cut-leaf" or "Split-leaf" Philodendron. They are now classified as two entirely different genera. Both genera "Philodendron" and "Monstera" are a group of tropical American plants belonging to the Araceae or Arum Family. Some species will climb like a vine while others are more crawling and shruby in there growing habits. All are winter hardy only in Zones 10-11 but are grown as houseplants everywhere else. They grow very well in containers indoors and like moist conditions.

The Monstera deliciosa, "Mexican Breadfruit" is the best known of the Monsteras and has also been referred to as "Swiss Cheese Plant" because of the holes in the leathery leaves. When allowed to grow at will, without pruning, it can become an imposing plant in a greenhouse or under a skylight. It produces cordlike aerial roots that will dangle downward until they find nourishing soil. The clublike flower spike "spadix" grows upward from a creamy white spathe or bract and will grow to about 12 inches long. The spike or spadix developes into a conelike fruit with a flavor similar to both banana and pineapple. It can be easily propagated from seed or from stem cuttings rooted in a mixture of about equal parts peat moss or leaf mold, and sand with the additiona of about 20% superphosphate and a little limestone. Ideal temperatures are 75 to 85 degrees F during the day and 65 to 75 degrees F at night. High humidity is definately a plus.

Philodendron bipinnatifidum and Philodendron selloum. I have had my Split-leaf or Elephant Ear Philodendron for more than 20 years. I set it outdoors in mid May here in zone 6 and leave it in filtered light until mid October when I bring it back inside for the winter. It would probably do well in nearly full sun but my patio does not have a location that gets full sun anyway. It nearly doubles in size and number of leaves during the summer. Inside I must cut some of these older leaves back so that it will fit into the place where it will reside for the winter beneath and next to my Schefflera. It seems to reach for the skylight about 10 ft. overhead and grows toward the plant light about 6 ft. away with equal gusto. Mine is very shruby and grows completely full of foliage by the end of summer. Inside during the winter the lower leaves wilt and these are the ones that I prune back. By spring it seems ready for its summer vacation and grows profusely during those hot months of July, August and September. I change the soil of this plant annually and feed it 3 or 4 times a year during the growing season (monthly) when it is outdoors. I water it heavily three or 4 times a week while it is outside. The container drains well and I have never had problems with root rot. Indoors during the winter, I only water it about once a week or every 10 days as needed and I stop feeding it. This plant would probably thrive just about anywhere. It does need bright filtered light and plenty of water during its growing season.

The last specimen of Elephant Ear Philodendron was photographed on my patio in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 1, 1998.

© 1998 Michael King