The Philodendron
The heart-shaped leaves of Philodendron scandens have earned it the rather cutesy name of ‘the sweetheart plant’, and thanks to its tolerance of low light and general neglect, it is well-loved by those with a not-so-green thumb. A natural climber, the name of this hearty tropical plant is Greek for ‘tree loving’, and it will happily embrace the trunk of its chosen suitor up to 20 feet high in the wild. In the 1980s, Philodendron was actually determined by NASA to be one of the most effective houseplants for improving indoor air quality by removing airborne toxins like benzene and formaldehyde, chemicals that can off-gas from furniture and carpets, and are sometimes found in conventional household cleaners. But even though this plant makes a low-maintenance, attractive, and government space agency endorsed household companion, no relationship is perfect: the natural chemicals contained in the Philodendron’s sweet looking leaves can be irritating or even poisonous to dogs and cats. Just a little something to keep in mind when it’s time to consider moving in together.
Photo by Jilia Folsom
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