Full Specimen Plate
Philodendron imbe
Imbe Philodendron
Quick Facts
Aroid Atlas Price Guide
Community estimate — limited market data
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About
Philodendron imbe is a Brazilian climbing species named for the coastal region of Imbé in Rio Grande do Sul. Its variety ilsemannii is the source of two well-known variegated selections in cultivation: the widely-traded 'Ilsemannii Variegated' and 'Jose Buono' — the latter's full botanical name is Philodendron imbe var. ilsemannii 'Jose Buono', though it circulates commercially under just the cultivar name. Both are unstable, often heavily white-sectored chimeric variegations, considerably more delicate and slower-growing than the plain green species.
Native Range
Brazil
Collector Popularity Review
Aroid Atlas Collector Review: Philodendron imbe (Imbe Philodendron) is ranked as Uncommon rarity on the market. Rating is calculated based on overall cultivation difficulty, aesthetic appeal, and search popularity among active collectors.
Market Analysis
Auction History & Retail Data
Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.
No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.
Before You Buy
Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing
- For 'Ilsemannii' or 'Jose Buono', check the balance of green-to-white tissue in photos — near-pure-white cuttings are fragile and slow to establish
- Confirm which cultivar name the seller means, as both circulate under overlapping trade names
- All Philodendron are toxic if ingested — keep away from pets and children
Propagation Guide
Growing More Plants
8-12 weeks
Cultivar character is preserved through vegetative cuttings
Roots from stem or node cuttings. The heavily variegated 'Ilsemannii'/'Jose Buono' forms need a cutting taken at a node with enough chlorophyll-bearing tissue to survive — pure-white cuttings frequently fail to establish.
Care Guide
Growing Conditions
Chunky, well-draining aroid mix: 40% orchid bark, 30% potting compost, 20% perlite, 10% sphagnum moss.
Allow the top few centimetres of substrate to dry between waterings.
60-80%. Heavily variegated forms benefit from the higher end of this range.
Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 3-4 weeks during the growing season.
Every 12-18 months, or when roots fill the pot.
Common Problems
Reversion to solid green
Insufficient light
Increase light levels and prune reverted growth to favour variegated tissue
Cutting fails to establish
Cutting taken from a section with too little chlorophyll-bearing tissue
Select cuttings with a healthy balance of green and white leaf tissue
One Species, Two Trade Names
It took some digging to confirm that 'Jose Buono' isn't its own species — its full name is Philodendron imbe var. ilsemannii 'Jose Buono', named for a grower in Puerto Rico, but for commercial reasons it's almost always sold under just the cultivar name with no mention of imbe at all. 'Ilsemannii Variegated' comes from the exact same variety. If you already own both, there's a decent chance you own two names for a very similar plant.
