Philodendron giganteum 'Blizzard Variegata' - 8cm pot / 12cm
Philodendron giganteum 'Blizzard Variegata' has big ambitions and absolutely no interest in being subtle about them. Pale flecks and marbling sweep over green foliage like a snowstorm has wandered into the rainforest.
The giganteum part is worth paying attention to. The species is a substantial tropical aroid native from the Caribbean into northern South America, and mature plants can produce enormous foliage. This is a young plant with the potential to become a real presence, given time, warmth and the right conditions.
What gets me about Blizzard is the combination of scale and detail. You can enjoy the fine markings now, then watch the leaves develop a more expansive, heart-shaped character as the plant grows. It has that 'imagine this in a few years' quality that makes adopting a young collector plant so addictive.
Give it a bright, sheltered position where it can develop without being squeezed between ornaments. The pale patterning deserves good light, and the future foliage deserves a little room in your plans.
A very small beginning to what could become a gloriously unreasonable jungle obsession. I'm obviously in favour.
