The HOT, LOUD and PROUD Philodendron Blossom

Philodendron BLOSSOM?!?!  I thought Philodendron was a foliage plant?!?!  Well, this is true, especially being a northern transplant to the tropics, I know philodendron as a hardy houseplant.  However, in the tropical regions of zones 9-11, philodendrons can actually appear prehistoric with their massive size.  There are 400-900 varieties of philodendron, according to Wikipedia.  That's a huge range, so in layman's terms, there's a lot.  But right now, I'm focusing on Philodendron Bipinnatifidum.  I'm not impressed by the long, scientific name, but the plant and blossom are actually quite impressive!  (If you look closely, you can spot the bloom among the gigantic leaves)

The P. bipinnatifidum is a non-climbing variety, otherwise known as a tree philodendron or split leaf.  A single leaf can grow to 3 feet!  CRAZY!!! The "tree" itself can grow to 15', winding, falling over and sprawling as it grows.  The woody stem grows to 6" or greater in diameter producing stout aerial roots between leaf scars.  The stem, in my opinion, is one of the most interesting portions of the plant!

Most philodendrons grown indoors never produce flowers.  This is why I was unaware of such a fantastic sight!  However, the P. bipinnatifidum DOES produce a blossom that is quite unique.  It tends to grow underneath the umbrella of foliage so is often unnoticed.  The bloom is also not a traditional, fragrant blossom such as a gardenia or rose; just one more reason the phioldendron bloom is often passed over.  I think this brilliant bloom is well worth ogling over!  Judge for yourself!

Breathtaking, isn't it?!

The "blossom" is actually made up of the outer spathe that encircles the spadix that is the home of a mulittude of tiny flowers, both male and female.  This is really all I know about this fantastic speciman, but I found a wonderful post by Mr. Subjunctive at Plants are the Strangest People  if you're interested in finding out more. 

And if you want to check out other HOT, LOUD, and PROUD blooms, head over to my friend Noel's at  A Plant Fanatic in Hawaii for his monthly meme!!

Happy Gardening!