Philodendron ‘Xanadu’

Philodendron selloum ‘Xanadu’

Synonyms: Philodendron ‘Winterbourn’.

Philodendron Xanadu is one of the most widely cultivated plants in Brisbane, used by councils, educational facilities, fast-food restaurants and the like as a reliable green space filler. Although loathed by some for its ubiquity, there is still good reason to love this plant. It grows extremely well in South-East Queensland, surviving on natural rainfall alone if it must. It is a consistently tight growing plant with a few pest and disease issues, making it an exceptionally low-maintenance plant.

Xanadu was developed in the late 1980’s from the Tree Philodendron (P. selloum), and was given the name “Winterbourn”. In Australia it was trademarked as Xanadu and the name has since stuck. It is useful as a low- or mid-ground planting in subtropical gardens. It’s also used a lot as a verge plant or on round-abouts and roadsides. Common to see it filling large planters or pots in alfresco dining areas and the like.

In landscaping applications, it is particularly useful as an under-planting, where it will clump and cluster around taller species. Being a Philodendron, it is quite tough and competitive, so grows well under trees or in crowded plantings. It takes anything from full sun to full shade. Xanadu is occasionally grown as an indoor plant, where it should do well if not over-watered. However, the leaf shape will be more attractive and deeply lobed if grown outside in sun. Will handle light frost, but leaves will burn badly.