The Plant That Looks Like an Alien (on Purpose)

Did you know the Philodendron joepii was discovered in the wild because a guy named Joep Moonen thought it looked like it had been eaten by bugs? It's one of the rarest-looking shapes in the plant world, so when I found a pot with two of them in it near Gainesville, I just had to have it.

The bottom leaves of this plant are long and thin - they don't necessarily have the tri-lobed structure of the more mature leaves further up. But man-oh-man as the plant grows, so do the leaves! On the top leaves, there's almost a perfect heart that seamlessly flows down into a thin middle section...and THAT widens into a beautiful oval tapering into a point. If the ideal plant shape = an hourglass, this would be the plant. There's just nothing like it.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/6f8628_a0e18e1d537e4e2989e3e71bc6db80cf/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Splitting a rare philodendron in preparation for Curated Cuttings Grand Opening!

The "Survival of the Fittest" in a Pot

I've seen a lot of people discuss the pros and cons of splitting up two plants like this - and I know some people prefer their pots to look "fuller" - but I wanted to explain why I like them separated. In nature, there's a "only the strong survive" philosophy. Think about that concept in terms of plants - especially those outside of their native habitat. Rare Philodendrons aren't exactly growing amongst the wild kudzu here in Flowery Branch, GA.

These two Joepii were sharing limited space and resources (soil, water, light) in a climate that isn't their own (Zone 8A). Sooner or later, one of these two plants "wins," effectively choking out the other. It was already starting to happen; one plant's roots had begun reaching into the root ball of its neighbor to claim those resources.

New Beginnings

Now that they're separated, these two Philodendron joepii have the space to really take off, even in our unpredictable NE Georgia winters (as long as they stay inside during the ice storms, of course!). With their own dedicated resources and the addition of bamboo hoops for stability, these unique indoor plants are ready to climb.

A Note for the Shop: As with all our listings, photos are representative samples. While I hand-select every specimen to ensure it’s healthy and happy, every living plant is unique and will grow its own way!