Cutflower Nomenclature

Scientific/Botanical Name:

Genus: Philodendron

Specie: P.melanochrysum

Variety/Cultivar:

English Name:

 

Common Name:

Black Gold Philodendron, Velour Philodendron

Botanical Family:

Name in Latin: Araceae

Name in English: Arum Family

The Plant

Origin: Costa Rica to Columbia into Ecuador and down to Peru

Growth Habit: climbing foliage plant

Flower: rare, insignificant flowers

Blooming Period:

Leaf: heart-shaped leaves that are typically 25 cm long, but in ideal conditions they can grow even longer, velvety sheen on the blackish-green surface, and beautiful, pale green veins.

Usage:

houseplant, greenhouse plant

Care and Handling

Soil: well drained rich soil mixed with a lot of peat, mulch and humus

Amount of water: Water freely when in full growth, water sparingly in winter

Nutrition: monthly liquid feed

Special handling: high humidity and moderate light

Special feature/remarks:

"melanochrysum' means "black gold" and is used to describe the tiny golden sparkles sometimes seen when the velvety blackish-green leaf blades of adult plant are in sunlight.