Plant Needs to be Identified: Philodendron Selloum
We inherited this plant from my dad when he passed. I don’t know what it is or how to really take care of it. All he ever said was he brought it inside during the winter and took it out during Spring and Summer. We live on Kansas so our winters are pretty cold and Summer’s have been pretty hot. We have it outside and the leaves are looking a little wilted and even eaten on.
Hi Arlene,
Your dad’s plant is a Philodendron Selloum.
A Philodendron Selloum or Tree Philodendron is native to South America, but also grows outdoors on the East and Gulf coasts of the United States where it is humid. Indoors, the easy-care, self-heading Philodendron Selloum takes up a lot of space, often spreading 5ft. or more with 2ft.-3ft. leaves. The huge drooping leaves usually hide the trunk. This is a spectacular plant, but it is very poisonous. Grasshoppers and other pests are probably snacking on it. I never put mine outside unless its on a covered porch (even then the bugs seem to find it). Philodendrons can adapt to direct sun but also do well in the shade. You can read my care tips on how to grow a Philodendron Selloum in the Popular HousePlant section of the website.
