Philodendron McDowell
Philodendron 'McDowell' (P. gloriosum × P. pastazanum)

A creeping terrestrial hybrid that brings together two of the most beloved ground-dwelling philodendrons — the velvety, white-veined P. gloriosum and the large, glossy, corrugated-leaved P. pastazanum — producing offspring that split the difference between their parents in a way that collectors find immediately and enduringly appealing. The leaves are broadly heart-shaped and grow larger than gloriosum typically achieves indoors, with a width that leans toward pastazanum's generous scale while maintaining the distinctive white venation inherited from gloriosum — rendered in a slightly more subtle, silvery-green tone rather than gloriosum's high-contrast bright white, and against a leaf surface that is less matte-velvety than gloriosum but carries a soft sheen and gentle corrugation. New growth often emerges with a pinkish blush on the developing petioles. Like both parents it is a terrestrial creeper with a horizontally growing rhizome rather than a climber, making it a wide-spreading floor specimen rather than a vertical display plant — and a notoriously mislabeled one, as P. pastazanum is frequently and incorrectly sold under the McDowell name by sellers who have not verified parentage.

As a terrestrial creeper, this hybrid performs best in a wide, shallow pot or long rectangular container that accommodates the horizontal rhizome spread — the rhizome should sit at or just below the soil surface rather than buried deeply. Bright indirect light supports the best leaf size development and most vivid venation contrast; low light produces smaller, paler leaves with reduced vein definition. Keep the medium consistently lightly moist, watering when the top 1-2" approaches dryness; use a loose, well-draining aroid mix of orchid bark, perlite, and coco coir. Humidity of 60-80% supports the largest, most richly textured leaves. Maintain warm temperatures between 65-85°F. Toxic to humans and pets if ingested.