Philodendron nangaritense

Collected in Ecuador’s Nangaritza Valley

Philodendron nangaritense was described in 2021 from a plant found in the Nangaritza Valley and Cordillera del Cóndor in Zamora-Chinchipe, southern Ecuador.

The plant grows on the ground in wet foothill forest and around rocky stream banks at approximately 867–1,140 m.

Care for self-heading aroid roots and foliage

• Propagation: Cut the rhizome between growth points, leaving a living bud on each division and keeping attached roots wherever possible.
• Humidity and airflow: Its quilted leaves open most reliably in moderate to high humidity. Air movement prevents dampness from settling around the textured leaf stalks and rhizome.
• Light: Position it in bright filtered light, where the broad quilted leaves are protected from harsh direct sun.
• Water: Before the upper layer dries through, soak the mix and let it drain completely. Water must not remain around the horizontal stem.
• Root care: Choose a broader container before the creeping tip runs out of open substrate. Keep the stem at the surface and do not bury it for stability.

Philodendron nangaritense: tubercles, quilting and rhizome health

• Hard red tubercles: Hard red tubercles are part of the leaf stalk and cannot be lifted away. Scale insects have separate bodies or shells and may be accompanied by wax, honeydew or sooty growth.
• Pink new leaves: Deep pink emerging tissue can be normal and should change as the leaf hardens. Black specks, scraped scars or one-sided expansion indicate thrips or physical injury instead.
• Softness along the crawling stem: If wet substrate covers the horizontal stem, it may darken, soften and smell unpleasant. Cut back to firm tissue, leave the healthy stem exposed at the surface and renew compacted mix.
• Quilting or blisters: Regular quilting follows the whole blade. Isolated translucent raised spots that later become corky can result from water imbalance; reduce excess moisture and watch if new spots stop.
• Pests on quilted leaves: Black droppings and scars on an emerging leaf indicate thrips, while fixed stippling or webbing across the mature underside indicates mites. Follow the valleys and raised areas of the quilted blade with magnification. Move the plant away from others and cover the affected surfaces with a product labelled for the pest found.
• Dry edges across a broad leaf: Dry root pockets, direct sun, fertiliser salts or root loss can crisp the edges. Check the broad pot from side to side, correct uneven moisture and flush salts when needed.

Philodendron nangaritense 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.

Why is it called Philodendron nangaritense?

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.” The geographic epithet nangaritense means from Nangaritza and refers to the Nangaritza Valley in Zamora-Chinchipe, southern Ecuador.

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 nangaritense in 2021 in Aroideana, volume 44, page 430.