Philodendron rugosum

S. Colombia to Ecuador; wet montane forest (a threatened, restricted-range species)

First described by Bogner & G.S.Bunting. (1983)

Thick, stiff, leathery heart-shaped leaves with a deeply wrinkled (rugose), pigskin-like surface; semi-glossy deep green.

Climber with notably thick, succulent-textured leaves; slow but steady with a support.

Genus from Greek 'philo' (love) + 'dendron' (tree), referring to many species' habit of climbing trees. Epithet 'rugosum' means 'wrinkled', for the thick, textured leaf surface.

Philodendron rugosum (Bogner & G.S.Bunting, described 1983) is native to southern Colombia and Ecuador. A climber, it is instantly recognisable for its thick, stiff, heart-shaped leaves with a heavily wrinkled, leathery surface that looks and feels like pigskin — hence its common names. Its restricted wild range makes it of conservation concern.

The thick, leathery leaves store water, so let the top few cm dry well between waterings to avoid rot. Bright indirect light, an airy mix, a moss pole and good humidity suit it. Coming from montane forest, it prefers cooler, stable temperatures over heat.

• Root rot if overwatered (thick leaves mask early stress); spider mites in dry air; slow recovery if disturbed; rare in the wild, so ethically sourced plants matter.

• Its thick, wrinkled, leathery leaves look and feel like pigskin — hence 'Pigskin' and 'Sow's Ear' Philodendron.
• It's native to a restricted area of southern Colombia and Ecuador and is of conservation concern.
• The unusually thick leaves help it tolerate drier spells than most philodendrons.