Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Xanthosoma Lindenii (Xanthosoma lindenii)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called angel wings, white-veined xanthosoma, Indian kale.

More about xanthosoma lindenii

About Xanthosoma Lindenii

Xanthosoma lindenii · also called angel wings, white-veined xanthosoma · tropical

Xanthosoma lindenii, sold as angel wings, is a striking foliage aroid grown for its arrow-shaped deep-green leaves boldly painted with crisp white veins. A warmth-loving tropical that wants bright indirect light, consistently moist rich soil and high humidity. Compact enough for containers and warm conservatories. Like all elephant ears, every part contains irritating calcium oxalate.

Cold limit: USDA 10-12 (indoor in most temperate homes) · RHS H1b (18-28°C)

Watch for — Winter dormancy dieback: In cool, dark months it may slow or drop leaves; keep it warmer, ease off water and it reflushes in spring.

What xanthosoma lindenii's hardiness rating actually means

Xanthosoma Lindenii 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 10-12 (indoor in most temperate 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). Xanthosoma Lindenii has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

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

Xanthosoma Lindenii hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is xanthosoma lindenii cold hardy?

Xanthosoma Lindenii 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. Xanthosoma Lindenii can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10-12 (indoor in most temperate homes)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature xanthosoma lindenii can survive?

What hardiness zone is xanthosoma lindenii?

Xanthosoma Lindenii is rated USDA 10-12 (indoor in most temperate homes) and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can xanthosoma lindenii 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 xanthosoma lindenii 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.