Plant · GBIF taxon 2871003
heart-leaf philodendron
Philodendron hederaceumAlso known as Heartleaf Philodendron, Velvet Leaf Philodendron, Parlor Ivy, Sweetheart Vine
Heart-leaf philodendrons scramble up tropical tree trunks in Central American forests, using fibrous aerial roots to climb toward canopy light. Smooth, heart-shaped leaves unfurl along slender vines that easily adapt to trailing from hanging baskets or scaling indoor trellises. As resilient epiphytes, they thrive in warm, humid conditions while efficiently enduring low-light environments.
Climbing VineHouseplantTropical
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Spider Mites
- Mealybugs
- Scale Insects
ThreatsDeforestation in native range
HabitatsTropical rainforests, humid woodlands, indoor environments
Life span20 to 50+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAraceae
- SpeciesPhilodendron hederaceum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; keep foliage out of reach from pets and young children.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate soft mouth tissues, causing burning, swelling, and drooling upon ingestion.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognize it by smooth, heart-shaped green leaves attached to rounded leaf stems along trailing vines.
- What to do
- Place pots on high shelves or in hanging baskets away from dogs, cats, and small children.
Responsible observation
- Bright Indirect Light: Position near a sunny window with filtered light to encourage vibrant leaf growth.
- Climbing Support: Provide a moss pole or trellis to let aerial roots anchor and grow larger leaves.
- Pruning Care: Snip leggy stems just above a leaf node to promote bushier vine growth.
Look-Alike (c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Subspecies 
Close Relative VSA.bing / Public domain · cc0
Family Member (c) Jacqui Geux, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jacqui Geux · cc-by
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