Philodendron bipennifolium 'Golden violin'

From Venezuela’s forests to Golden Violin

From southern Venezuela through Suriname to northern and eastern Brazil, Philodendron bipennifolium climbs trees in wet tropical forest. Its botanical name dates to Schott’s 1855 publication. ‘Golden Violin’ is its chartreuse-leaved form.

Care for supported climbing aroids

• Support: Let the vine climb a vertical moss pole or textured board. Climbing encourages the mature violin or horsehead outline, while trailing growth commonly stays simpler.
• Light: For compact growth and golden-chartreuse colour, use bright indirect light. Acclimate the plant gradually and protect its paler leaves from strong direct sun.
• Water: After the surface has begun to dry, wet the entire potting mix evenly and let all excess drain. Do not leave the pot standing in water.
• Humidity and airflow: Developing lobes unfurl more smoothly in moderate humidity. Gentle airflow prevents moisture from lingering around rolled leaves.
• Propagation: Take a stem section with at least one healthy node, make an air layer or divide a plant with several shoots. Seed will not preserve the selected golden foliage.

Troubleshooting Philodendron bipennifolium 'Golden violin': normal changes and damage

• Simpler leaves: Young or unsupported stems may carry entire leaves before the violin-shaped lobes develop. Improve light and climbing contact and judge progress across several new leaves instead of treating juvenile shape as damage.
• Chartreuse foliage: Even chartreuse or golden foliage is normal for this selection. Stress-related yellowing is more likely to appear between the veins, begin on older leaves or occur alongside weak roots and declining growth.
• Misshapen lobes: A lobe that opens unevenly with silver scrapes and black dots may have been damaged by thrips while it was rolled. Move the plant away from the collection, inspect every emerging leaf and use a treatment labelled for thrips at the intervals stated on the label.
• Scorch and dry margins: Bleached patches on the brightest-facing surface usually follow a rapid light increase; dry brown edges can also follow drought or salt build-up. Remove the exposure, restore even watering and flush the mix when excess fertiliser is likely.
• A saturated root ball: When yellowing accompanies a persistently wet pot, dark soft roots or an unpleasant smell, the root ball has remained waterlogged and short of air. Remove dead portions, settle the remaining roots into fresh open mix and make sure water no longer collects around them.
• Wet lesions: Rapidly expanding water-soaked spots are not ordinary golden colour. Keep the plant apart, stop overhead wetting and splash, and cut away badly affected tissue with a disinfected tool if the damage continues to spread.

Philodendron bipennifolium ‘Golden violin’ 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.

Philodendron bipennifolium: where the name comes from

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.” Bipennifolium combines bi-, meaning two, penna, meaning feather, and folium, meaning leaf.

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

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott first described Philodendron bipennifolium in 1855 in Österreichisches Botanisches Wochenblatt, volume 5, page 289.