It is impossible to take one’s eyes off beautiful rare Philodendrons. This means that your Philodendron Deja vu or Xanadu will be a natural eye-catcher. Both can add a touch of beauty and relaxation to your interiors.
However, it gets a bit difficult to distinguish them. Both plants look pretty much the same. If you are experiencing this kind of confusion between these two similar plants, we will make things easier for you.
In this, we will discuss all the differences between them. Also, you will get some insight into the main characteristics of each plant.
Table of Contents
What is Philodendron Deja Vu?
Philodendron Déjà vu is a highly preferred plant for various reasons. For instance, it has beautiful evergreen leaves with splits. Its attractive foliage is glossy, too. The edges of its leaves are serrated.
Another characteristic that makes this extra plant special is its self-heading growth pattern. It grows upright without trailing or climbing. In this matter, Philodendron Déjà vu resembles philodendron orange marmalade.
Déjà vu is more of a compact size plant that requires minimum care. Initially, the Philodendron Déjà vu grows in the Amazon Forests, but it is commonly found as a houseplant almost all over the world.
It will do a great job decorating a desk or a table. But beware that it is a toxic plant that can hurt children or pets.
What is Thaumatophyllum Xanadu?
This is another beautiful decorative tropical variety of the Thaumatophyllum genus. Its split leaves feature a lovely shine and leathery texture commonly known as the “Winterbourn” plant.
It is a small plant that is native to Brazil. Despite its common name, this Philo winterbourne is not a cold-tolerant plant at all.
Just like the Déjà vu plant, the Xanadu plant only grows upright. Indoors, this plant won’t require much care. Even if you want to grow it outdoors, you only have to bear the hardiness zone in mind.
This plant grows peacefully anywhere between 9 and 11 zones. This plant has green foliage that is shaped like spades. At the juvenile stage, this starts with very light green foliage. As the plant grows, the leaves become darker. Its stems are thick and long.
For decades, this plant has been categorized as a Philodendron. Yet recently, botanical researchers concluded some evidence proving it does not carry the same Philodendron DNA. So, Xanadu is officially a member of the Thaumatophyllum genus.
Differences between Philodendron Déjà Vu and Thaumatophyllum Xanadu
At a distance, Philodendron Déjà vu and Xanadu look very similar. Both of them have green-lobed and split leaves. They are not large plants, tall climbers, or cascading trailers. They grow upright and won’t take up much space.
1. Genus
Philodendron Déjà vu and Thaumatophyllum Xanadu indeed come from the same Araceae family. Also, they both were considered philodendrons until 2018. Déjà vu remained in the Philo genus, but the Xanadu moved to the Thaumatophyllum genus.
2. Leaf shape
A closer look at the leaves of both plants can reveal a notable difference in shape. Both plants have lobed leaves. However, the leaves of Philodendron Déjà vu feature fewer splits and lobs than the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu. The leaves of Thaumatophyllum Xanadu are narrower and more elongated than the Déjà vu.
3. Leaf texture
Another difference you might notice when you get closer to each plant is the texture. The leaves of Philodendron Déjà vu are softer. On the other hand, the leaves of Thaumatophyllum Xanadu are thick and fleshy.
4. Plant size
Philodendron Déjà vu and Thaumatophyllum Xanadu are not large plants whether grown indoors or outdoors. However, there is some difference in their grown sizes. If your Déjà vu grows outside a pot, it could reach a height of 1.2 meters. It only spreads less than 1 meter in diameter.
The Thaumatophyllum Xanadu, on the other hand, grows relatively wider than the Déjà vu. It reaches a similar height to the Déjà vu. However, it spreads to 1.5 meters in diameter.
5. Leaf size
Generally, the leaves of Thaumatophyllum Xanadu are longer than those of Philo Déjà vu. The leaves of Thaumatophyllum Xanadu usually reach a length of 46 cm. They also spread around 35 cm wide. The leaves of Philodendron Deja vu are generally approximately 35 cm long.
6. Stem features
In general, both plants have smooth, flexible, and upright stems. However, the Philodendron deja vu and Xanadu stem comparison help identify each.
The stems of Philodendron Déjà vu are softer and more delicate. The stems of the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu are thicker and stronger.
7. Flowers
Philodendron Déjà vu does not produce flowers at all. No matter where you place it, this plant won’t bloom. The Thaumatophyllum Xanadu, on the other hand, has small flowers. Just keep in mind to grow it outdoors to expect summer blooming.
8. Temperature needs
Both plants are tropical, so they require warmth to thrive. However, they need a slightly different temperature average. The Thaumatophyllum Xanadu thrives at temperatures between 18 and 29 degrees Celsius.
Philodendron Déjà vu, on the other hand, tolerates marginally lower temperatures. It can grow when it is between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Philodendron Deja Vu vs Thaumatophyllum Xanadu: are they the same?
The Philodendron Déjà vu and the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu are not the same plants. They have common origins being members of the same plant family. Their leaves are split in a very similar way too. Also, they were once descendants of the same genus.
However, some botanical evidence proved DNA differences between the Xanadu and the rest of the Philo genus. So, it is now known as the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu.
Both plants usually grow to the same heights, but the Thaumatophyllum grows much broader. The leaves of Thaumatophyllum are more elongated, while those of the Philodendron Déjà vu are less fleshy. Also, in terms of leaf splits, the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu features more lobs.
Stems of the Philodendron Déjà vu are more delicate and weaker than those of the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu. The Thaumatophyllum Xanadu is an ornamental plant, while the Philo Déjà vu won’t bloom.
The Philodendron Déjà vu shows more tolerance for slightly lower temperatures, but this is not the case with Thaumatophyllum Xanadu.
