Plant Comparison
Philodendron Selloum vs Alocasia Portodora
Both of these are giant aroids bought to fill a large, empty corner, but they get there in very different shapes. Selloum spreads outward on a low, thick trunk with deeply cut, feathery lobed leaves โ closer to a shrub than a upright plant. Portodora grows upward with broad, wavy, unlobed leaves on long petioles, reaching genuine ceiling height where Selloum stays wide rather than tall.
Philodendron Bipennatifidum (Selloum)
Thaumatophyllum bipennatifidum
Giant self-heading Philodendron with deeply cut, feathery lobed leaves on a low, thick trunk. Spreads wide rather than growing tall.
Alocasia Portodora
Alocasia 'Portodora'
One of the largest Alocasia hybrids, with huge glossy, wavy-edged, unlobed leaves on tall petioles. Grows upward rather than outward.
Photo: Photo by David J. Stang / CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Wikimedia CommonsSide-by-Side Comparison
Choose Philodendron Bipennatifidum (Selloum) ifโฆ
- โYou have a wide, low space to fill rather than height
- โYou want the most forgiving giant aroid, tolerant of average light and cooler rooms
- โYou like the feathery, deeply cut leaf shape over a smooth unlobed one
- โYou want a plant less bothered by winter cold than most Alocasias
Choose Alocasia Portodora ifโฆ
- โYou have vertical space and want a plant that grows upward
- โYou want the fastest possible growth and largest single leaves
- โYou prefer smooth, broad, wavy-edged leaves to a deeply cut shape
- โYou are growing outdoors in summer and can give it full sun
What They Have in Common
- โขBoth are giant aroids commonly bought to anchor a large empty space
- โขBoth are toxic if chewed and need calcium oxalate caution around pets and children
- โขBoth need regular feeding through the growing season to reach full size
- โขBoth eventually outgrow a small room and need real floor space
The Verdict
Choose by the shape of the space, not just its size. Selloum fills width at a manageable height and tolerates an average room; Portodora fills height fast but wants more light, more water, and a cold-free environment. A cool, dim corner favours Selloum; a bright, tall space with full sun favours Portodora.
๐ด Philodendron Bipennatifidum (Selloum)
๐ Alocasia Portodora
