Thaumatophyllum xanadu Croat., J.Boos & Mayo, Sakur., Calazans & Mayo. 2018

Common name(s): Philodendron 'Xanadu', Xanadu

Family: Araceae Synonym(s): Philodendron xanadu Croat., Mayo & J. Boos. 2002 publ. 2003

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021 at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales

Stem (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021

Flower Bud

Taken by Ken Harrington on 7th July, 2021

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Plant Properties

Origin(s)

Brazil

Brazil: Indigenous

Plant Type

Evergreen Shrub , Perennial

Evergreen Shrub,

Perennial

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon

Oceanic,

Temperate Cool,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical,

Tropical Monsoon

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium

Sun - Full,

Sun - Morning,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light,

Shade - Medium

Habitat Range(s)

Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical

Rainforest - Sub-tropical,

Rainforest - Tropical

Habitat Zone(s)

Heavy soils, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Understory, Well drained, Wind Protected

Heavy soils,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Understory,

Well drained,

Wind Protected

Mature Height

1-1.5m

Mature Width

1-1.5m, 1.5-2m

1-1.5m,

1.5-2m

Plant Shape

Bun - Broad

Growth Rate

Fast

Maturity

1-2 yrs

Life Span

15-30yrs

Leaf Properties

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (front)

Green Light

Colour (front)

Glossy, Green Dark

Glossy,

Green Dark

Colour (back)

Green Dark

Shape(s)

Lobed Pinnately / Pinnatifid

Deeply

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Smooth

Waxy

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Smooth,

Waxy

Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leathery

Smooth

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Smooth

Leaf Length(s)

300-325mm

Leaf Width(s)

250-300mm

Margin

Entire

Lobed

Entire,

Lobed

Cross Section(s)

Concave ribbed

Venation(s)

Pinnate

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Acute Broadly

Obtuse

Acute Broadly,

Obtuse

Base(s)

Auriculate

Attachment

Petiolate & Articulate

Petiole Length

250-300mm, 300-350mm, 350-400mm

250-300mm,

300-350mm,

350-400mm

Petiole Texture(s)

Plain

Petiole Cross Section

Terete Concave

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Brown-green , Green Dark

Brown-green,

Green Dark

Colour(s) Lower

Brown-grey, Grey-brown

Brown-grey,

Grey-brown

Texture(s) Upper

Waxy

Fleshy

Textures(s) Lower

Pitted

Rough / Scabrous

Pitted,

Rough / Scabrous

Knobbly

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Pith Continuous

Wood - Soft

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem Feature(s)

Leaf Scar

Adventitious Roots

Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter

60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm

60-70mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm

Trunk / Stem / Culm Length

500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm

500-600mm,

600-700mm,

700-800mm

Flower Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flower Colour(s)

Red Dark, Red-brown, White

Red Dark,

Red-brown,

White

Flower Shape(s)

Spathiate

Flower Size(s) Width

4-5mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangement(s)

Spathiate

Arrangement Size(s)

175-200mm, 200-225mm

175-200mm,

200-225mm

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Beetles, Insects

Bees,

Beetles,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Flower Head

Root Properties

Type

Plate

Aerial

Texture

Cord-like , Fleshy , Pliable

Cord-like,

Fleshy,

Pliable

Colour(s)

Brown Light, Brown-grey

Brown Light,

Brown-grey

Invasiveness

Low

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter, Premium Potting Mix

Clay,

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Hummus Rich,

Organic Matter,

Premium Potting Mix

pH Range(s)

Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Moist - Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist - Dry

Fertile , Deep , Shallow , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Shallow,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

Poor

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Very Low

Wood Density

Low 200 - 400 kg/c.m.

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

None

Fire Retarding

Good

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

10 -12°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

Moderate

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Leaf Removal, Pruning - Shaping

Dead Leaf Removal,

Pruning - Shaping

Pests/Diseases

Aphid, Mealy Bug, Root Rot Fungus, Scale, Spider mite, Thrip

Aphid,

Mealy Bug,

Root Rot Fungus,

Scale,

Spider mite,

Thrip

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Border Plant, Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Fire Retarding, Floral Art, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Bali, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Groundcover, Hedge-informal, Poisonous, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Screen, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Border Plant,

Erosion Control,

Fire Resistant,

Fire Retarding,

Floral Art,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Bali,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Groundcover,

Hedge-informal,

Poisonous,

Pond Edge,

Pool Side,

Screen,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m, 1,000-1,250m, 1,250-1,500m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m,

1,000-1,250m,

1,250-1,500m

Annual Precipitation Range

750mm, 800mm, 850mm, 900mm, 950mm, 1,000mm, 1,100mm, 1,200mm, 1,300mm

750mm,

800mm,

850mm,

900mm,

950mm,

1,000mm,

1,100mm,

1,200mm,

1,300mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR6, FR11

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Light Winds

Poisonous To

Birds, Cats, Cattle, Dogs, Fish, Goats, Horses, Humans, Livestock, Pigs, Sheep

Birds,

Cats,

Cattle,

Dogs,

Fish,

Goats,

Horses,

Humans,

Livestock,

Pigs,

Sheep

Poisonous Parts

Leaves, Sap, Flowers, Stem

Leaves,

Sap,

Flowers,

Stem

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Semi-hardwood Cuttings

General Notes

Originally thought to come from a chance seedling in 1983 from a nursery in Western Australia and trademarked as 'Xanadu' and then trademarked in the United States as 'Winterbourn' in 1988. It has since been substantiated that the plant originated from seed collected from a wild plant in Brazil. It will take warm temperate areas, to give a lush, leafy tropical feel but doesn't like frost and although it will take full sun in the tropics the lack of humidity in warm temperate areas causes the leaves to yellow and burn. In heavy shade, like a lot of plants it can become leggy and straggly. Grown outdoors as a compact, foliaged landscape plant in tropical and warmer climates or as a very popular house plant in cooler climates. Very versatile for a tropical look with mass planting, understory or border planting.

The leaves are Poisonous and can cause swelling of the throat and tongue if ingested and skin irritations from the sap.

Released as plant of the year in 1988 by House Plants of Australia.

Propagation Notes

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Fresh Seed

Sowing

Spring Early

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Soak the seed in warm water overnight.

Sow seed approximately 50mm apart, cover with mix, water in. Place on 22°C heated bed with misters. Maintain a hothouse temperature around 21 - 25° at plant level, and hothouse environment between 75 - 95% humidity where possible. Spray fortnightly with fungicide and every 4 weeks with Seasol.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 3 - 5 weeks

Pricking out:- 3 - 5 weeks after germination

Tube Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

Semi-hardwood Cuttings

Cutting

Summer Early, Summer Mid, Spring Mid, Spring Late

Material Preparation

Choose a health strong stem with at least 2-3 leaves and 2-3 nodes, removing any lower leaves. Cut just below the lower node making the cutting approximately 100-150mm long. Reduce the remaining leaves by 50%. Keep hydrated by misting frequently or placing in a bucket of water

Propagating Mix

Premium Potting Mix

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep.. Fill the 140mm pot half way with mix. Cutting 100 - 150mm long. Dip in Easiroot for 3-4 seconds. Place the cutting in the pot and fill around the cutting ensuring at least 1-2 nodes are covered and firm up. Mist frequently while continuing cutting process. Thoroughly wet the pot of soil with Previcur fungicide. Place on 21° heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-34° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock %

Nursery Stock %

Rooting time:- Field Stock weeks

Nursery Stock weeks

Tube Mix:- Premium Potting Mix