Mature size & growth rate

How big does Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) (Philodendron bipinnatifidum (syn. Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, P. selloum)) get?

Also called Tree philodendron, Selloum, Lacy tree philodendron, Horsehead philodendron, Hope philodendron, Split-leaf philodendron.

More about philodendron selloum (tree philodendron)

About Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron)

Philodendron bipinnatifidum (syn. Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum, P. selloum) · also called Tree philodendron, Selloum · tropical

The tree philodendron is a large, non-climbing tropical aroid grown for its dramatic, deeply lobed evergreen leaves and self-heading rosette habit. Its one defining need is bright, filtered light paired with consistently moist but well-drained soil. Give it room to spread, warmth and steady humidity, and it makes a bold, low-maintenance statement houseplant.

Mature size: Indoors typically 1-1.5m tall and wide; outdoors in frost-free climates it can reach 2.5-4m (RHS) or more over many years, with individual leaves up to 90cm long.

Watch for — Leggy, small or less-divided leaves: A sign of insufficient light. New leaves staying entire rather than deeply lobed, and long bare stalks reaching toward a window, mean it needs a brighter, filtered position. Rotate the pot regularly so growth stays even.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) does not get tall — it gets long. Size here is about stem length and how you train or cut it, not how much floor it claims. Indoors and in a pot, expect typically 1-1.5m tall and wide. In the ground with no restriction it is a completely different plant — outdoors in frost-free climates it can reach 2.5-4m (rhs) or more over many years, with individual leaves up to 90cm long. — which is why the pot, the light and the pruning matter so much for the size you actually end up with.

Growth shows up as lengthening stems that trail down or climb up a support; the plant can be kept tiny or grown metres long from the exact same root system.

Growth rate and years to mature

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) is a slow grower. Realistically, expect many years — it gains very little each season, so it can hold the same shelf-sized footprint for 5-10+ years. Its feeding profile backs this up: feed every 2-4 weeks through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to half strength, then stop in autumn and winter when growth slows. this is a vigorous, hungry plant, so steady feeding supports its large leaves; flush the compost occasionally to prevent salt build-up, and ease off if you see crusty soil or leaf-tip burn.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) grows.

How to keep philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Trim the longest vines back to the length you want — philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) takes hard cutting well and bushes out from the cut.
Cut just above a leaf node; each trimmed stem usually branches into two, so pruning makes it fuller, not sparser.
The cuttings root easily in water or mix, so "keeping it smaller" doubles as free new plants.
A trim once or twice a season is usually enough to hold its length.

The keep-it-smaller method, step by step

Decide the length you want. Pick the point each vine of philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) should stop — you can be aggressive; it regrows readily.
Cut just above a node. Snip about 0.5 cm above a leaf node so the stem branches there instead of dying back.
Root the cuttings. Drop the trimmed pieces in water or mix — they root in 2-4 weeks and can fill the same pot for a bushier look.
Repeat as it runs. Re-trim whenever it overshoots; regular light pruning keeps it both smaller and fuller.

How to grow philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) the accelerators are:

Good light plus a moss pole or trellis triggers the longest, fastest, largest-leaved growth.
Give it something to climb — many vines grow far faster and bigger up a support than trailing.
Feed through spring and summer and keep it consistently watered while it is actively running.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for philodendron selloum (tree philodendron):

Vines pooling on the floor or wrapping past where you want them — purely a trimming cue, not a repot one.
Bare, leggy stems with leaves only at the tips (usually a light problem, not a size one).
A tangled mass that has outrun its support and needs cutting back and re-training.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) size — frequently asked questions

How big does philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) get?

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) reaches typically 1-1.5m tall and wide when grown indoors, and far larger where it grows unrestricted (outdoors in frost-free climates it can reach 2.5-4m (rhs) or more over many years, with individual leaves up to 90cm long.). Growth shows up as lengthening stems that trail down or climb up a support; the plant can be kept tiny or grown metres long from the exact same root system.

Is philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) slow or fast growing?

Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) is a slow grower. Expect many years — it gains very little each season, so it can hold the same shelf-sized footprint for 5-10+ years. Philodendron Selloum (Tree Philodendron) does not get tall — it gets long. Size here is about stem length and how you train or cut it, not how much floor it claims.

How long does philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) take to reach full size?

Roughly many years — it gains very little each season, so it can hold the same shelf-sized footprint for 5-10+ years. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) smaller?

Trim the longest vines back to the length you want — philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) takes hard cutting well and bushes out from the cut. Cut just above a leaf node; each trimmed stem usually branches into two, so pruning makes it fuller, not sparser. The cuttings root easily in water or mix, so "keeping it smaller" doubles as free new plants. A trim once or twice a season is usually enough to hold its length.

How can I make philodendron selloum (tree philodendron) grow bigger or faster?

Good light plus a moss pole or trellis triggers the longest, fastest, largest-leaved growth. Give it something to climb — many vines grow far faster and bigger up a support than trailing. Feed through spring and summer and keep it consistently watered while it is actively running.