Philodendron pastazanum
Ecuador to Peru; valleys and stream banks in wet, often disturbed forest
First described by K.Krause.
Large, glossy, bright green heart-shaped leaves with deeply impressed (quilted) veins; smooth surface (not velvety, unlike gloriosum).
Terrestrial crawler with a horizontal rhizome; grow in a long, shallow planter to let the rhizome run.
Genus from Greek 'philo' (love) + 'dendron' (tree), referring to many species' habit of climbing trees. Epithet refers to the Pastaza region/river of Ecuador, near the type locality.
Philodendron pastazanum (K.Krause) is native to Ecuador and Peru, growing as a repent (creeping) terrestrial plant along valley floors and stream banks. Like P. gloriosum it is a crawler, with a thick rhizome running horizontally and large, glossy, deeply veined heart-shaped leaves held aloft on vertical petioles.
Grow as a crawler in a wide, shallow pot with the rhizome resting on top of the mix. Bright indirect light, an airy moisture-retentive substrate, and high humidity produce the largest, glossiest leaves. Water when the top 2–3 cm dries.
Chunky moisture-retentive aroid mix in a long, shallow planter; lay the rhizome on the surface with the growing tip into open space.
Monthly during growing season (spring–summer)
- Rhizome rot if buried or kept soggy; spider mites in dry air; smaller leaves in low light; brown edges from low humidity.
- Pastazanum is a 'crawler' like gloriosum, but its leaves are glossy and quilted rather than velvety.
- It's named for the Pastaza region of Ecuador.
- Its big, deeply veined heart-shaped leaves make it a favourite for wide, shallow display planters.