Philodendron hederaceum 'Lemon Lime'

🌿 The Philodendron hederaceum 'Lemon Lime', commonly called the Lemon Lime Philodendron or Lemon Lime Heartleaf Philodendron, is a cultivar within the Araceae family. Native to Central America and the Caribbean, this tropical vine naturally climbs trees in humid rainforests using aerial roots. It's a beginner-friendly plant that forgives occasional care mistakes. Here's a fun fact: the vibrant chartreuse colour of new leaves gradually deepens to lime green as they mature, creating a beautiful gradient effect throughout the plant.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This vigorous vining philodendron produces heart-shaped leaves that emerge in bright neon yellow tones before transitioning to lime green. The leaves have a smooth, glossy texture with a slightly waxy finish. Growth habit is cascading or climbing depending on support, with trailing stems that can extend several feet when happy. The contrasting leaf colours along each vine create visual interest at every stage of growth.
FLOWER DETAILS
Like most philodendrons grown indoors, the Lemon Lime variety rarely flowers in home environments. When mature plants do bloom in ideal greenhouse conditions, they produce small, inconspicuous spadix flowers typical of the aroid family—creamy white spathes wrapped around a central spike. These flowers lack fragrance and aren't particularly showy. The foliage is the real star here. To maintain the plant's energy for producing those stunning lime leaves, most growers don't focus on encouraging flowering. The vibrant foliage provides year-round visual appeal without needing blooms.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Thrives in bright indirect light but tolerates medium light. Needs 6-8 hours of filtered light daily. Avoid direct sun, which scorches the delicate leaves and fades the vibrant colour.
💧 Water: Water when the top 2-3 centimetres of soil feel dry, usually every 5-7 days in spring and summer, every 10-14 days in winter. Bottom watering or thorough top watering until drainage occurs works well. Reduce frequency in cooler months.
🌡️ Humidity: Adaptable to average home humidity of 40-50% but prefers 60-70%. Tolerates drier air better than many tropicals.
🪴 Soil: Well-draining, chunky mix with perlite, orchid bark, and peat moss or coco coir. Soil should dry out between waterings but retain some moisture.
🏺 Potting: Use a pot with drainage holes, sized just slightly larger than the root ball. Plastic or ceramic works fine. Repot every 1-2 years in spring when roots fill the container.
🌱 Growth rate: Fast grower. Produces several new leaves monthly during growing season. Vines can extend 30-60 centimetres in six months and reach 3-4 metres at maturity when climbing. Mature size indoors typically 1-2 metres when trailing.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly from spring through early fall with diluted balanced liquid fertilizer (20-20-20). Skip fertilizing in winter when growth slows.
🐾 Pet friendly: No. Contains calcium oxalate crystals that are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing. Keep out of reach of curious pets.
WHERE TO PUT IT
The Lemon Lime Philodendron brightens living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and even bathrooms with adequate light. Display it in a hanging basket to showcase the cascading vines, place it on a high shelf where stems can trail down, or train it up a moss pole for a climbing effect. It adapts well to various spots as long as it gets sufficient indirect light. Avoid placing it near heating vents, air conditioners, or drafty windows where temperature fluctuations stress the plant. Keep away from floor areas where pets might nibble the leaves.
RARITY ASSESSMENT
common