Philodendron Sharoniae 'Mosquera'

Formally described by Thomas Croat in 2016 and named in honor of Sharon Christoph, Philodendron sharoniae is a hemiepiphytic climber native to the tropical and premontane wet forests of northwestern Ecuador and Valle del Cauca in Colombia, found across a remarkably wide elevational range from near sea level to over 2,300 meters. The 'Mosquera' locale selection is distinguished from the 'San Antonio' or 'Goat' form by its leaf shape — where the Goat form produces anterior lobes that flare dramatically outward giving the leaf a three-pronged, horn-like silhouette, the Mosquera form carries narrower anterior lobes that don't extend as dramatically outward, producing a more classically elongated sagittate-hastate form that reads as deeply arrow-shaped rather than pronged. Across both forms the species is defined by its extraordinary long, narrow, deeply elongated leaves — pleated, semi-leathery, and conspicuously ribbed with deeply impressed venation that creates pronounced ridges along the blade surface in good lighting — reaching over two feet in length on well-grown mature climbing specimens. The Mosquera form additionally shows slightly darker leaf coloration and more pronounced vein impressions than the standard type, contributing to the dramatic ribbed, corrugated effect that makes the species so visually distinctive among climbing philodendrons. A vigorous, fast grower with closely spaced nodes when provided a climbing support.

A firm moss pole or trellis is essential — this is an appressed climber with short internodes that produces progressively larger, more dramatically ribbed and elongated leaves as it ascends, and the leaf quality difference between a supported and unsupported plant is significant. Provide bright indirect light; good light supports the largest leaves and most pronounced vein ribbing, while insufficient light produces smaller, paler foliage and longer internodes. Water when the top 2" of medium approaches dryness in a chunky, well-draining aroid mix of orchid bark, perlite, and coco coir; this is a heavy feeder that benefits from regular balanced liquid fertilizer during active growth. Humidity of 60-70% supports the best leaf quality. Maintain warm temperatures between 65-85°F away from cold drafts. Toxic to humans and pets if ingested.