Week of December 15

A plant serving as one of the foundations of our Florida Home’s gardens is the CUTLEAF PHILODENDRON.  Growing up in Wisconsin, I was always impressed by the huge leaves, as well as their need to stay warm, so they stayed indoors there as a small houseplant.  When we moved into our Florida  Home, we had three enormous plants:  One covering about half the front of the house; two more in the back of the house, more than eight feet tall and 20 feet wide.  They make a fine natural barrier around the pool.  The are very sensitive to the cold and will die back to almost nothing, only to grow back entirely.  They are home to lots of critters.  The leaves are deeply invaginated, with the main trunk sending down long root-like runners.  Their buds are like daggers.  They bloom in the spring with a bright white stamen.  We also have a smaller cutleaf with a darker leaf that makes a three foot mound and  lives in the shade of the Palm Row. These large plants take up lots of room but add to the tropical feel of our Florida backyard.