Philodendron ushanum is a small shingling Philodendron from the Guianas, and one of the few in the genus to grow this way. As a young plant it presses its leaves flat against whatever it climbs, each narrow heart-shaped, matte dark green blade overlapping the next like tiles on a roof. The leaves are small, around 6 to 9cm long, with a fine point and neat cross veins, so the effect is a living mosaic running up a board or moss pole rather than a mass of big foliage. It is still rarely seen in cultivation, which makes it a real find for aroid collectors and terrarium builders.
Origins
The species was described in 2006 by Tom Croat and Joep Moonen from plants found along the Mataroni River in French Guiana, where it grows as a hemiepiphyte in lowland tropical wet forest at 10 to 150m. Rainfall there is around 4000mm a year and nights stay above 20C, which tells you everything about what it wants at home. In the wild it eventually leaves the shingling stage behind, spreading into the canopy and flowering from hanging branches, but indoors it stays compact and keeps its juvenile form for a long time.
Care
Give it bright, indirect light away from direct sun, which will scorch the thin leaves. It needs warmth and high humidity to shingle well, so a terrarium, cabinet or a humid bathroom is ideal, with a flat board or moss pole kept lightly damp for the aerial roots to grip. Water when the top few centimetres of the mix have dried, using an open, bark-based substrate that drains freely, and keep it above 15C all year. It is toxic if eaten, so keep it away from pets and children.
Live Arrival Guarantee
All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.
Your quick reference for choosing the right plant size. We group our plants by the diameter of their nursery pots which gives you a consistent way to understand scale.
5–8cm
Mini
Small but full of charm. These compact plants are perfect for desks, windowsills, and small shelves, or for building out a collection over time. Ideal if you enjoy watching your plants grow from the beginning. Approx. height: 10–20cm
9–11cm
Small
A step up in presence, great for side tables, shelves, or styling in clusters. Easy to move around and perfect for adding greenery without taking up too much space. Approx. height: 25–35cm
12–14cm
Medium
Our most versatile size. Works beautifully on shelves, desks, and plant stands, offering a fuller look without dominating a space. A great balance between impact and flexibility. Approx. height: 25–50cm
15–18cm
Large
More established plants with fuller foliage and stronger structure. Ideal for creating soft focal points in a room. Great for corners, beside furniture, or as standalone features. Approx. height: 40–70cm
19+cm
Extra Large
Big, impactful plants designed for floors and open spaces. These are your statement pieces and are perfect for anchoring a room or transforming a corner with instant greenery. Approx. height: 60cm–1.3m
Pots that fit this plant
We recommend
How to care for Philodendron ushanum
Keep me in bright, gentle light away from harsh sun and water me once my top few centimetres feel dry.
In their words
What our customers say
EP
Emily P.
Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.
JR
James R.
Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.
SL
Sophie L.
Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.
Get to know me
About Philodendron ushanum
Philodendron ushanum is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, high humidity and a minimum temperature of 15°C. It is harmful to pets and small children if eaten.
Bright, indirect light. It tolerates a slightly shadier spot, as in the forest understorey it comes from, but direct sun will scorch the leaves.Read moreShow less
Bright, indirect light. It tolerates a slightly shadier spot, as in the forest understorey it comes from, but direct sun will scorch the leaves.
Watering
Evenly moistDries out fully
Let the top few centimetres dry out
Water when the top few centimetres of the mix have dried, then let it drain fully. Mounted or board-grown plants dry faster than potted ones, so check them more often and keep the board lightly damp.Read moreShow less
Water when the top few centimetres of the mix have dried, then let it drain fully. Mounted or board-grown plants dry faster than potted ones, so check them more often and keep the board lightly damp.
Humidity
Average homeHigh humidity
Needs high humidity
High humidity of 60 percent or more is what makes it shingle properly. A terrarium, grow cabinet or humidifier is the easiest way to provide it.Read moreShow less
High humidity of 60 percent or more is what makes it shingle properly. A terrarium, grow cabinet or humidifier is the easiest way to provide it.
Temperature
15°
0°C25°C
Keep above 15°C · Likes a warm room
Warm and steady, ideally 18 to 26C. Keep it above 15C at all times and away from cold draughts and chilly glass.Read moreShow less
Warm and steady, ideally 18 to 26C. Keep it above 15C at all times and away from cold draughts and chilly glass.
Feeding
Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.
Shingling is a juvenile growth habit in some climbing aroids. Instead of holding its leaves out on long stalks, the plant presses them flat against the surface it is climbing, each one overlapping the next like roof tiles. Philodendron ushanum does this as a young plant, with narrow heart-shaped leaves lying tight to a board or pole. Given a flat surface, warmth and humidity, it will keep shingling as it climbs.
Can I grow Philodendron ushanum in a terrarium or on a mount?
Yes, and it is the best way to grow it. In a closed terrarium or grow cabinet the humidity stays high, which is exactly what this species wants to shingle well. Give it a flat board, cork slab or moss pole to climb and keep the surface lightly damp so the aerial roots can grip. It can also be grown mounted outside a terrarium if you can keep humidity high around it.
How much humidity and warmth does it need?
This is a lowland rainforest plant from French Guiana, where nights stay above 20C and rainfall is very high. Indoors aim for 60 percent humidity or more and temperatures of 18 to 26C. Do not let it drop below 15C. In an average dry living room the leaves may stay small and fail to shingle, so a humid spot or enclosure makes a real difference.
Is Philodendron ushanum toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. Like all Philodendron it contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals throughout the plant. Chewing it causes pain and swelling of the mouth and tongue, drooling and vomiting in cats and dogs, and it is harmful to people too. The sap can also irritate skin. Keep it out of reach of pets and children and wash your hands after handling cut stems.
How big will it get indoors?
Indoors it stays compact. The shingling juvenile leaves are only around 6 to 9cm long and 3 to 4cm wide, and the plant climbs slowly up whatever support you give it. In the wild it eventually grows into the canopy with much larger leaves of 24 to 27cm on hanging branches, but that mature form is very unlikely in a home or terrarium, so expect a small, neat climber for years.
Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.
If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.
If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.
It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.
If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.
If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.
That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.
Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.
When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.
We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.
Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.
It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.
Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.
Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.
During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.
That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.
The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Philodendrons are by far one of our favourite houseplants to grow. With their incredible tropical foliage and relatively low maintenance care requirements, they make excellent additions to any indoor space. These plants belong to a diverse genus with nearly...
Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.
Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Perfect for Gifting
From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.
Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.
Sustainability at Heart
All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.
Good for your home - and the planet.
Verified reviews
Rated by real customers
5 stars: 1 (100%)
4 stars: 0 (0%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)
A
Anonymous
Beautiful vining plant, already working on 2 new baby leaves. It looks very good, healthy
