Philodendron campii 'Lynette'

Amazonian forests from Brazil to Peru

‘Lynette’ was grown as an ornamental plant before Thomas Croat described Philodendron campii in 2004.

The species comes from northern Brazil, southern Colombia, Ecuador and northern Peru. It inhabits wet tropical forest, mainly on trees and sometimes on the ground at higher elevations.

Care for self-heading aroid roots and foliage

• Repotting: Choose a shallow, well-drained pot and repot when roots fill it or the mix begins to break down. Never bury the crown more deeply for stability.
• Growth: No tall pole is needed. Keep the short stem and central growing point above the substrate and leave room around the rosette.
• Light: Dense rosette growth and clear ribbing develop under bright filtered light. Shield the leaves from harsh midday sun.
• Watering: When the upper few centimetres of the shallow pot are dry, water the fibrous root ball evenly and let excess escape without keeping the crown wet.
• Humidity and airflow: The finely pleated new leaves unfurl most evenly in moderate to high humidity. Air should still circulate through the close-set leaves.
• Feeding: While the crown is producing leaves, use a gentle feed; concentrated fertilizer can damage the roots and brown the leaf margins.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Philodendron campii 'Lynette'

• Soft crown: A buried or water-filled crown can become soft, dark or foul-smelling. Unpot the plant, remove dead tissue with a clean blade, use fresh airy mix and keep the central growing point above the surface.
• Pleats within the crown: Regular parallel ribs and folds are normal. Brown lines that stay within fold valleys can come from rubbing during expansion, while new wet areas or tissue collapse require closer inspection.
• Stalled centre leaf: A new leaf may pause when roots are too dry, air is very dry or the crowded crown restricts it. Keep moisture steady and do not pull the leaf; check inside the fold for thrips and their black droppings.
• Pests in the rosette: Mealybugs and scale can hide between close-set leaf bases, while mites feed under the pleated blades. Open the crown gently with good light, wipe away visible colonies and rinse accessible leaf surfaces. Direct an indoor-use control for the pest into the sheltered areas.
• Brown tips and edges: Dry roots, fertiliser salts or direct sun can produce crisp marginal damage. Correct the exposure, water the full root zone evenly and flush the substrate if salts have accumulated.
• Yellow lower leaves: One old outside leaf can yellow naturally as the crown grows. Several leaves yellowing quickly, especially with a wet pot or loose crown, calls for immediate inspection of roots and stem.

Philodendron campii ‘Lynette’ 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.

When was Philodendron campii first published, and what does it mean?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.” Campii honours the American botanist Wendell Holmes Camp, who collected the species in Ecuador in 1944.

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 campii in 2004 in Aroideana, volume 27, page 39.