Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’

Breeding history of Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’

Cora McColley selected and named ‘Black Cardinal’ in a Florida breeding programme. Its plant patent was filed in 1983 and granted and published in 1984. The cultivar came from selfing a selected seedling produced through earlier crosses involving Philodendron wendlandii, P. hastatum, P. erubescens, P. imbe, P. fragrantissimum and an unnamed Philodendron species.

How to care for Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’

• Free-standing growth: No climbing support is needed. Give the broad crown enough room for air to move around it and clear water or debris from the close centre.
• Moderate to bright filtered light: Good diffuse light supports compact growth and the plant’s healthy colour development. Introduce brighter exposure gradually and protect the leaves from harsh direct sun.
• Roots and watering: Use an aerated medium with enough moisture retention to water evenly. Let part of the root zone dry before watering thoroughly, then allow all excess to drain away.
• Warm, drier crown conditions: Keep the root zone warm and avoid prolonged cold while it is wet. Apply water directly to the medium and keep new leaves and petiole bases dry.
• Active-growth nutrition: Feed with an indoor-plant fertiliser at the current label rate and frequency while new growth is active. Reduce or pause feeding when light and growth slow.

Health problems to check on Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’

• Fixed bumps appear on the dark leaves or stems: Use bright reflected light to inspect the stems, midveins and leaf undersides. A scar needs no pest action. Confirm scale, isolate the plant, carefully scrape off small numbers and rinse away mobile crawlers. If one section is heavily infested, prune that section without stripping the plant of healthy growth, then reinspect the plant and pot. If physical removal is not enough, use only a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap labelled for indoor use on the plant and scale, target the young crawler stage, and repeat strictly at the label interval.
• The crown stays wet or begins to soften: Remove loose debris and keep water out of the crown. Isolate the plant if soft or wet tissue spreads, use clean tools and remove only tissue that is confirmed dead. Do not force rolled leaves open.
• The plant droops: Check moisture deep in the root ball, root firmness and smell. Water thoroughly if the root ball is genuinely dry, then allow the excess to drain. If it is wet, remove only confirmed dead roots and correct the medium’s drainage and aeration.
• Brown tips or margins appear with a white crust: White deposits on the medium or pot make excess salts more likely, so review fertiliser use as well as the plant’s other conditions. Stop excessive feeding. In a larger pot with healthy drainage, leach the medium thoroughly; in a small pot, replacing the medium may be safer and more effective.

Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’ 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 did Philodendron get its name?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.”

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