Black Cardinal - Philodendron selloum - 1L / 14cm / Small
$30.00Philodendron 'Black Cardinal'
Philodendron ‘Black Cardinal’ is a moody, modern statement plant prized for its deep burgundy to near-black foliage and bold, architectural form. Each new leaf emerges a coppery red before darkening to chocolate-maroon, creating rich colour contrast as the plant matures. Unlike climbing philodendrons, ‘Black Cardinal’ is self-heading with a compact, upright growth habit, making it perfect for tabletops, floor pots or shelves in contemporary interiors.
This hybrid was developed for both colour and structure, staying relatively low and wide with an eventual height of 40–60cm. It thrives in bright, filtered light but adapts well to lower indoor conditions, and its slow to moderate growth makes it an easy-care option for both homes and offices.
Toxic if ingested.
Care Instructions
Light: Prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates medium light. Avoid direct sun, which may scorch the leaves.
Water: Let the top 2–4cm of soil dry out between waterings. Water less in winter.
Humidity: Average household humidity is fine, but it thrives with a little extra moisture in the air.
Temperature: Keep above 15°C. Protect from cold drafts and sudden drops.
Fertiliser: Feed every 4–6 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser.
Pruning: Remove old or damaged leaves at the base to maintain its tidy form.
Repotting: Every 2 years or when rootbound. Use a chunky, free-draining mix suited for aroids.
Pests: Low risk, but mealybugs and spider mites can appear in dry conditions. Inspect regularly
Plant Size Guide
The plant in the photos is an example and an approximate guide only however we try to show an average sized example. Sizes, flowering state and colours change throughout the seasons and variation will occur. In summer & autumn, plants are often larger or the same size as than the example picture but around winter and spring, they can be a little smaller but still at a size similar to the example. We aim to update the pictures to reflect significant differences.
Plant Heights - because the plant's foliage must fit inside our Plant Cartons, the actual height of a plant's central trunk (meristem) will be shorter than the box it fits in.
Small Plants - 14cm wide nursery pot - 1 Litre volume - Plants fit in a 50cm tall box.
Medium Plants - 17cm wide pots either 2L hanging pot or 2.5L nursery pot - Plants fit in a 75cm tall box.
Large Plants - 25cm wide pot, 10L volume. Plants fit in a 100cm tall box.
XL Plants - Plants over 100cm tall in pot sizes specified, 25cm/10L or greater and are hand delivered within Auckland/Northland only.
Dispatch Times
Plant courier orders are processed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
North Island orders are targeted overnight delivery, South Island orders are sent on a 2-day target but these are not a guaranteed delivery timeframe.
Add 1 extra day after a public holiday as well as for rural addresses or remote towns.
Monday - We send orders placed on previous Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
Tuesday - We send Weekend orders from previous Saturday & Sunday.
Wednesday - We send orders placed from Monday & Tuesday.
XL Plants are delivered only within urban Auckland & Whangarei and this service is for non-urgent orders. This excludes satellite destinations such as Beachlands, Pukekohe, Piha, Helensville etc and Whangarei Heads. We may deliver at any time Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday in Auckland and you need to have a sheltered accessible position for us to deliver to.
Plants in Transit
Each Small, Medium & Large plant is individually contained within its own protective cardboard Plant Carton which may be joined to other cartons in your order.
Plants typically take just a day or two to arrive, however they are usually fine in their cartons for 1-2 weeks, and many can go longer, so a few extra days are not usually cause for concern.
Whether it takes 1 or 7 days, let your plant recover from its journey by placing in gentle light and adding a little water and it will be back to its best within a couple of days. Let us know if there are any major issues via the contact page.
