'Brasil' philodendron guide
Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil', also called Philodendron Brasil, Brazil philodendron
Published 2026-11-08
Quick care
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- When the top 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 in) of soil is dry
- Humidity
- Average room air is fine. More helps big leaves.
- Temperature
- 16 to 27°C (60 to 80°F). Keep above 13°C (55°F).
- Soil
- Chunky houseplant mix with bark and perlite
- Feeding
- Balanced liquid fertilizer, monthly in spring and summer
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs. Chewing causes mouth pain and drooling.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Mature size
- Vines trail 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft). Upright types reach 60 to 150 cm (2 to 5 ft).
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings with a node, rooted in water or soil
- Where to buy
- Common
This page covers what makes 'Brasil' philodendron different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the philodendron care guide.
What it is
‘Brasil’ is a heartleaf philodendron with a stripe of lime and yellow down the middle of each leaf. The rest of the leaf is dark green. Select-A-Plant lists it as a cascading plant from the Costa Farms Trending Tropicals line. It grows as fast and easy as a plain heartleaf.
How to tell it apart
| Plant | Leaves | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Brasil’ | Heart-shaped, lime and yellow center stripe | The stripe follows the midrib |
| ‘Rio’ philodendron | Heart-shaped, cream and silver center streaks | Pale cream and silver, not lime |
| ‘Golden’ pothos | Thicker, yellow streaks anywhere | Streaks are random, and the leaf stem has a groove |
Care differences
The stripe needs light. In low light, new leaves come in plain green. Give it bright indirect light to keep the stripe wide.
Reverting
‘Brasil’ reverts more than most philodendrons. If a vine grows several all-green leaves, cut it back to the last striped leaf. Cut off any vine that has gone all yellow too. Pure yellow leaves are weak.
Grow it from a cutting
Take cuttings from vines with good stripes. Cut below a node and root in water or moist soil. Roots show in one to two weeks.
Buying it
‘Brasil’ is common at garden centers and big box stores. Look for even striping on most leaves. A pot with more green leaves than striped ones is reverting already.