Philodendron ‘Narrow’ (‘Tiger Tooth’, ‘Jungle Boogie’)

Identity and naming history of Philodendron ‘Narrow’ (‘Tiger Tooth’, ‘Jungle Boogie’)

This serrated Philodendron is commonly traded as ‘Narrow’, ‘Tiger Tooth’ or ‘Jungle Boogie’. The labels are used across similar horticultural material, and the exact clone identity can vary between material sold under these labels.

Practical care for Philodendron ‘Narrow’ (‘Tiger Tooth’, ‘Jungle Boogie’)

• Support: If the spaces between leaves lengthen and the stem begins to lean, guide the shoot onto a stable support.
• Leaf clearance: Give new leaves room on both sides and move the pot from its base so the toothed margins do not snag.
• Light: Use bright filtered light and keep the long leaf edges away from intense direct midday sun.
• Watering: Water once the upper part of the airy mix begins to dry, then let the pot drain fully.
• Temperature and humidity: Aim to keep the growing area around 18–29 °C. Protect it from cold sources once temperatures approach 15 °C. Keep humidity around 50–60%.
• Feeding: During active stem extension, give complete houseplant fertiliser sparingly. Scale fertiliser back when the main growth flush has passed.
• Repotting: Repot when roots crowd the container, the mix has deteriorated or drains slowly, or the plant and its support become unstable. Keep the same pot size if roots still have room, refreshing the mix or improving stability instead.
• Propagation: Propagate from a healthy section of stem that contains a node. For ‘Narrow’, choose a node with an aerial root when available, as it can shorten establishment time.

Problems and fixes for Philodendron ‘Narrow’

• A tooth or leaf edge tears: Deeply cut margins catch easily on nearby objects. Give new leaves more clearance and leave an existing tear alone as long as the surrounding tissue stays firm
• Later leaves stay small on a lengthening stem: Check support and light together. Secure a leaning stem to a stable surface and increase filtered light gradually if the position is dim
• New foliage shows silvery scars or black specks: Look closely inside the folded leaf for thrips. Once confirmed, isolate the plant and use a current houseplant treatment that lists thrips on the label. Repeat it as directed and inspect the following leaf as it opens
• Leaves yellow although the root zone stays wet: Delay watering and confirm that the container drains freely. Continued wilt is a reason to inspect the roots. Keep healthy roots untouched. Renew compacted mix if drainage has deteriorated, removing only damaged roots that are soft or smell bad before repotting. The yellow-leaf guide helps compare wet-root stress with normal leaf ageing

Philodendron ‘Narrow’ 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 came about

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.