Philodendron Ace of Spades, Exotic Rainforest rare tropical plants

This plant is not a species, instead it is a hybrid or "man-made" philodendron variety created by crossing two philodendron species. One of the older hybrid philodendrons available, it has for some odd reason lost much of it's popularity. Reportedly, 30 years ago it was one of the most popular of all philodendrons grown as a house plant. The name comes from the shape of the leaf along with the deep dark almost black coloration of the leaf's underside. The philodendron hybrid is somewhat of a "magician". A climbing vine, when the leaf first emerges it is a deep reddish black, truly a very deep maroon. As it grows the leaves do a bit of "abra cadabra" and mature a rich deep green. The petioles which support the leaves are a beautiful deep shade of red. Easily grown, our specimen was a gift from philodendron collector Russ Hammer. Russ bought the plant originally in 1979 at an obscure nursery in southern Louisiana as the 'King of Spades' but has since learned it is the same hybrid known as the 'Ace of Spades'. Little can be found recorded regarding the history of the plant. No one seems to know what true philodendron species were crossed to create the hybrid. Some eBay sellers love to call the hybrid "rare" and "hard to find". It is not. The plant is no longer as popular as it once was but is quite common in cultivation. The 'Ace of Spades', or 'King of Spades should you prefer, is a beautiful philodendron in any collection. We give it moderate light with the plant growing in a fast draining soil mixture of rich potting soil, peat, and Perlite™.