Each plant is unique. Size, shape, fullness, and variegation will vary.
Philodendron verrucosum is a climbing aroid native to tropical Central and South America, where it grows in humid forest environments. It is known for its large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves with prominent pale veins and richly colored undersides that can develop reddish to purple tones. One of its most distinctive features is its petioles, the stalks connecting the leaves to the stem, which are covered in noticeable bristly or fuzzy growth. P. verrucosum is naturally variable, so leaf shape, coloration and petiole characteristics can differ between individual plants and forms.
Verrucosum is a climber, not a crawler. As it grows, the stem produces aerial roots that naturally attach to surrounding surfaces and help the plant move upward. Give it a pole, plank or other vertical support rather than allowing the stem to sprawl indefinitely. Once established and climbing, successive leaves can become substantially larger and show the dramatic proportions and venation this species is known for. A young nursery plant can look relatively compact, but a mature climbing Verrucosum is a very different plant.
For natural light, start Philodendron verrucosum approximately 1–3 feet from an east-facing window or 2–4 feet from a west-facing window. Philodendron verrucosum prefers approximately 800–1,500 foot-candles at the leaves. Foot-candles simply tell you how much light is actually reaching your plant. Useful light supports larger foliage, stronger growth and closer spacing as the plant climbs. Window direction and distance are starting points because trees, overhangs, neighboring buildings, window size, season, screens and glass can all change the amount of light actually reaching the foliage.
If you’re using grow lights, choose a 5000–6500K fixture and aim for the same approximately 800–1,500 foot-candles at the foliage. Kelvin tells you the color of the light, not its strength. Foot-candles tell you how much light is actually reaching the plant. As Verrucosum climbs, check the light at different heights rather than assuming the entire plant is receiving the same amount. There is no universal distance between the fixture and canopy because grow lights vary considerably in output and coverage.
Water when your plant needs watered. Verrucosum generally does best when the root zone can use some of its available moisture before being thoroughly watered again without being repeatedly pushed into an extreme dry period. Use an airy, well-draining aroid mix that can hold some moisture while still allowing plenty of oxygen around the roots. Good airflow is especially useful around its velvety foliage and developing growth. This is also a plant that appreciates a warm, relatively stable environment rather than repeated cold drafts or abrupt environmental changes.
Read the newest growth as the plant climbs. Increasingly long spaces between leaves, progressively smaller foliage or a stem reaching strongly toward its light source are reasons to check how much useful light it is receiving. Watch the aerial roots as well. When they begin attaching to the support, the plant has an opportunity to establish itself vertically and produce more mature growth. The velvety leaves can show physical damage fairly easily, so an imperfect older leaf doesn’t automatically indicate a problem with the entire plant.
Success looks like a Verrucosum actively climbing its support, producing healthy aerial roots and opening increasingly substantial velvety leaves with strong venation. As the plant becomes established, the stem should continue upward and each new leaf gives you a better picture of how well the environment is supporting it. Watch the progression of the newest growth rather than expecting every leaf to remain perfect.
