Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Tree philodendron (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called lacy tree philodendron, split-leaf philodendron (large), horsehead philodendron.

About Tree philodendron

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum · also called lacy tree philodendron, split-leaf philodendron (large) · tropical

Tree philodendron (formerly Philodendron selloum) is a large clumping aroid from South America with deeply lobed glossy leaves. It develops a thick trunk over time. Mildly toxic to pets due to insoluble calcium oxalates and best suited to larger rooms.

Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum (long sold as Philodendron selloum / bipinnatifidum), native to subtropical rainforests of southern Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay.

Unlike vining philodendrons it is self-heading — a large, non-climbing shrub whose deeply cut leaves rise on long stalks from a central crown atop a stout woody stem; it needs floor space, not a moss pole. Calcium oxalate toxic to pets.

Cold limit: USDA 9-11 (indoor in most US homes) · RHS H1b (18-27°C)

Sources: missouribotanicalgarden.org, plants.ces.ncsu.edu, aspca.org

What tree philodendron's hardiness rating actually means

Tree philodendron 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 9-11 (indoor in most US homes) — 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). Tree philodendron has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for tree philodendron 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 tree philodendron 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 tree philodendron can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1b figure above.

Tree philodendron hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is tree philodendron cold hardy?

Tree philodendron 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. Tree philodendron can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 9-11 (indoor in most US homes)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature tree philodendron can survive?

What hardiness zone is tree philodendron?

Tree philodendron is rated USDA 9-11 (indoor in most US homes) and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can tree philodendron 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 tree philodendron 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.