With any type of colourful garden, the key is to fill the in-between areas with muted tones of green foliage. In tropical gardens, go for extra textural contrast with low-growing shrubs like philodendron xanadu. It’s also the perfect plant for areas that don’t get a lot of light.
Make a damp shady spot come alive with lush plantings. Find a moist, protected corner, then plant in layers. The contrasting foliage of philodendron xanadu, blechnum ‘silver lady’ and arthropodium cirratum are perfect for making a statement.
How to grow philodendrum xanadu
Aspect
The tropical plant will flourish in full sun or shade. Dappled sunlight under larger trees or palms works well as they need to be protected from harsh sunlight.
Climate
Philodendrum xanadu will grow in tropical, sub-tropical, warm temperate and warm climates. Opt for sheltered spots in cold temperate zones.
Soil
When planting look for rich, open and free-draining soil or a premium potting mix.
Water
These green plants need to be kept moist in warmer or drier months. A good tip is to test the soil with your finger – if it feels dry, water.
Fertiliser
Philodendrum xanadus appreciate regular fertilising, try feeding with a controlled-release fertiliser for best results.
Maintenance
- Remove dead or damaged leaves as you see them, but overall, there’s not much to prune.
- Adding some mulch will help retain moisture during the dry spells.
- Although resistant to pests, mealybugs can become an issue. Use an insecticide detergent or wash the leaves regularly to prevent any potential bug problems.
Where to plant philodendrum xanadu in your garden
With its dramatic lobed leaves, philodendron xanadu is ideal for recreating a tropical landscape. It grows into a tight, compact dome, 50cm to 1m tall and wide, making it a must-have plant for sun or shade spots in tropical-look gardens. But be mindful that too much exposure to direct sunlight will turn the leaves pale.
You can create an easy-care lush scene by planting the tropical plants in groups or even borders. But the philodendrum xanadu also look stunning as a single feature plant.
Add pots of style to your verandah or other outdoor areas. The glossy green plants are a superb potted specimen, thus making them a trendy choice as an indoor plant. However, as an indoor plant, they need to be kept by a window with a sheer curtain or something that’s filtering the sunlight.
Philodendrum xanadu’s make great understorey plantings and will clump and cluster around taller species. Naturally, being a Philodendron, they are quite tough and competitive and will grow well under trees or in crowded plantings.
How to propgate philodendrum xanadu
There are two options when propagating, either by a cutting or through division.
For the cutting method, carefully cut off a stem and remove most of the leaves except a few near the tip. Then, place the cutting in soil, and wait a few weeks for it to take root.
The division method can be done when you’re repotting the plant. Carefully lift a “clump” from the main plant separating the roots. Once fully removed, repot into its own planter.
Clumping technique
BHG’s Charlie Albone, landscape designer and ambassador for Richgro shared that Xanadu is a dwarf Philodendron that unlike larger varieties won’t use other plants for support and will only grow to a maximum height of 1 meter, but that is only in optimal conditions. It’s perfect for giving the understory of a planting scheme a tropical feel but also looks great mass planted to form a sea of green. For this effect plant approximately 80cm apart and it should join up in a couple of years, for a more instant look bring your spacing closer but be prepared to have to thin them out in time.
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