Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum (formerly Philodendron selloum syn. P. bipinnatifidum)

The philodendron houseplant is such a reliable old friend and so commonplace that you might tend to overlook it in favor of more remarkable species.

But then along comes the tree philodendron, sometimes called lacy leaf, split leaf, or horsehead philodendron, a species so large and bold you can’t help but take notice.

It goes by various other common names as well, including panda or fruit salad plant.

This tropical species has vast green, glossy, heart-shaped leaves that are deeply lobed, with cuts so deep they reach almost to the center vein.

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This plant is easily confused with another jumbo-size, bodacious tropical, Monstera Deliciouswhich also has divided leaves and grows big and tall.

But those Swiss cheese plants may also have enclosed holes on their leaves, while T. bipinnatifidum has the deeply cut lobes only.

In USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 13, this foliage plant will grow outdoors year-round, either in large containers or planted in a garden or border.

Its tall stature is tree-like, and plants will commonly lose their bottom leaves, leaving the central stalk exposed.

Want to grow this big, bold beauty in your own home? I have plenty of tips to help yours thrive, from propagation to taking care of pests and preventing disease.

Here’s the lineup:

Native to southern Brazil and the regions of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay that are nearby, tree philodendrons are tropical.

Outdoors or in the wild, they can grow in excess of 15 feet tall with an upright habit, and spread 10 feet or more.

Mature plants, often of at least 20 years of age, may also produce flowers.

But these are minute, covering a spadix that is protected within a spathe before it blooms, like what you will see on anthuriums and peace lilies.

Indoors, the plants can still reach eight to 10 feet tall and spread six feet or more in ideal conditions, though you can limit this growth by planting them in containers no larger than 12 inches in diameter.

Vining philodendrons are typical, but T. bipinnatifidum was once categorized as one of the less common, “self-heading” types.

Members of the Meconostigma group of philodendrons – which have since been moved to their own genus – produce leaves that grow very close together, with all of them emerging from a single clump at the crown and no branching.

As they get older, these plants will develop a woody trunk of up to four inches in diameter and begin to shed their lower leaves, sporting leaf scars that resemble an eye with a darker pupil at the center where the foliage has fallen.

I like the offbeat appearance, but if you don’t, you can always limit the size of the plants before the trunks develop, merely by restricting the pots to 12 inches in diameter or so.

As self-headers, these plants also develop aerial roots that will grow from the long stem down to the ground. These roots support the plant as it grows taller.