Philodendron hastatum

Silver sword philodendron

A hemiepiphytic climbing Philodendron of Brazil's Atlantic Forest, mainly in Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, with arrow- to spear-shaped leaves. In the trade the name is attached to the silvery-leaved 'silver sword' plant, but wild herbarium plants are described with glossy green leaves. It is a warm, humid, bright-shade climber that does best on a moss pole.

At home, aim for

Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Dappled lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

No rest periodClimber

Where it grows wild

Collectors record it as a hemiepiphyte climbing tree trunks, and sometimes on rocks, in dense Atlantic rain forest, streamside forest, forest edges and secondary forest. It is often noted as shade-loving, but also on sunnier rock faces and road edges.

Specimen elevations run from near sea level (Ilha Grande, Marambaia) to about 1,000 m in the Serra dos Órgãos and Espírito Santo mountains, with most below 900 m.

Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)Brazil (Espírito Santo)Brazil (Minas Gerais)Brazil (Bahia, São Paulo, Santa Catarina)

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.