Philodendron luxurians
Endemic to the Chocó region of Colombia; wet tropical forest
First described by Croat, D.P.Hannon & R.Kaufmann.
Thick, stiff, deeply quilted heart-shaped leaves; dark green with pale veins above, deep red below; finely scalloped margins.
Compact short-stemmed crawler; new growth reddish, best grown in a wide, low planter.
Genus from Greek 'philo' (love) + 'dendron' (tree), referring to many species' habit of climbing trees. Epithet 'luxurians' means 'luxuriant/lush', for the thick, opulent foliage.
Philodendron luxurians (Croat, D.P.Hannon & R.Kaufmann) is endemic to the Chocó of Colombia and is widely grown under the trade name 'El Choco Red'. A compact crawler/short-stemmed plant, it has thick, stiff, deeply quilted heart-shaped leaves that are dark green with pale veins above and deep red beneath, with a finely toothed (scalloped) margin. (Distinct from the similarly named Anthurium luxurians.)
A Chocó native that wants high humidity (70%+), warmth, and a very airy, moisture-retentive mix kept evenly damp but not soggy. Bright indirect light brings out the red undersides. Grow in a wide, low pot like other crawlers. Not a beginner plant.
Airy, moisture-retentive aroid mix (50% orchid bark, 30% coco coir, 20% perlite) in a wide, low planter; keep the short stem at the surface.
Monthly during growing season (spring–summer)
- Crispy edges and stalled growth in low humidity; rhizome/root rot if overwatered; spider mites in dry air; slow to establish.
- It's widely sold as 'El Choco Red' for its deep red leaf undersides.
- Despite the shared epithet, it's unrelated to Anthurium luxurians — a different genus entirely.
- Its thick, quilted leaves and high-humidity needs reflect its origin in the wet Chocó forests of Colombia.