Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Philodendron 'Moonlight' (Philodendron 'Moonlight')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Moonlight Philodendron, Lime Philodendron, Philodendron Moonlight.

More about philodendron 'moonlight'

About Philodendron 'Moonlight'

Philodendron 'Moonlight' · also called Moonlight Philodendron, Lime Philodendron · houseplant

Philodendron 'Moonlight' is a compact, self-heading aroid hybrid prized for neon lime-green new leaves that mature to softer green. Give it bright indirect light, water when the top inch of soil dries, and warmth above 55F. Fast-growing and forgiving, but toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA.

Cold limit: USDA 9b-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) (18-29C)

What philodendron 'moonlight''s hardiness rating actually means

Philodendron 'Moonlight' is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Its RHS rating of H1b means: Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season. On the US scale that maps to USDA 9b-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 10 °C (sustained cold below this is damaging). Philodendron 'Moonlight' has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for philodendron 'moonlight' as it gets too cold:

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches.
A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover.
Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.

Can philodendron 'moonlight' go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually.
Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C.
It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when philodendron 'moonlight' can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1b figure above.

Philodendron 'Moonlight' hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is philodendron 'moonlight' cold hardy?

Philodendron 'Moonlight' is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Indoor-only in almost every home. Philodendron 'Moonlight' can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 9b-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature philodendron 'moonlight' can survive?

What hardiness zone is philodendron 'moonlight'?

Philodendron 'Moonlight' is rated USDA 9b-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can philodendron 'moonlight' survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually. Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C. It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

What happens to philodendron 'moonlight' below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches. A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover. Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.