Philodendron billietiae variegata

Frieda Billiet’s 1981 French Guiana collection

In 1981, Frieda Billiet collected the plant in French Guiana and brought living plants to the National Botanic Garden of Belgium in Meise. Thomas Croat described Philodendron billietiae in 1995.

The species climbs trees for support in wet tropical forest across the Guianas and Pará in northern Brazil.

Care for supported climbing aroids

• Support: Provide a tall, stable moss pole or rough board. Guide the stem upward and press the aerial roots gently against the surface, while leaving the orange leaf stalks untied.
• Light: Give it bright, filtered light. The green parts power growth, while cream and yellow areas scorch more easily in direct sun.
• Water: Once the upper part of the mix begins to dry, water thoroughly and let all excess drain. Avoid both a completely dry root ball and constant saturation.
• Humidity and airflow: Long leaves are less likely to stick or tear as they unfurl in moderate to high humidity. Gentle airflow remains important, and water should not sit on pale leaf areas or new growth.
• Feeding: New leaves need only light feeding. Heavy doses and accumulated salts can damage the roots and cause pale leaf areas to brown first.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Philodendron billietiae variegata

• Marbling and orange leaf stalks: Cream, yellow and pale-green marbling can change from leaf to leaf, and the leaf stalks are naturally orange. Stable colour boundaries and dry marks confined to pale tissue are different from damage that is wet or still spreading.
• Browning within pale sectors: Abrupt sun, severe drying, cold or fertiliser salts can brown the lightest tissue first. Return the plant to filtered light, check the root ball and drainage, and rinse accumulated salts from the mix if feeding has been heavy.
• Soft roots or stem: Constantly wet mix can leave roots dark, soft or foul-smelling. Remove dead tissue with a clean tool, replace collapsed mix with an airy blend and keep the stem above the wet surface.
• New leaves that catch or tear: A new leaf can catch when the air is dry, roots are struggling or the leaf rubs against its support. Do not pull it open; improve steady moisture and clearance, then inspect the rolled leaf for thrips and black specks.
• Pests across marbled leaves: Silvery scrapes with black dots point towards thrips; fine pale stippling or webbing is more consistent with mites. Examine rolled growth and both sides of each marbled leaf with magnification, then keep the plant apart. Use a treatment whose indoor-ornamental label includes the pest found, covering every affected surface.
• Sticky nodes: Clear or amber nectar can be normal, but cottony wax, separate bumps, honeydew or black sooty growth indicate mealybugs or scale. Wipe away visible insects, clean the orange stems, leaf stalks and support, and treat affected crevices with an indoor-use control that lists mealybugs or scale.
• Spreading leaf spots: Translucent or water-soaked areas that enlarge, soften or develop yellow haloes need prompt attention. Separate the plant, keep the leaves dry, prevent splash and remove badly affected tissue with a disinfected blade.

Philodendron billietiae variegata is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

How the name Philodendron billietiae came about

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.” The Latinized epithet billietiae means “of Billiet” and honours Frieda Billiet of the National Botanic Garden of Belgium.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Philodendron in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.

Thomas Bernard Croat first described Philodendron billietiae in 1995 in Novon, volume 5, page 24.