SKU: 74654073181
rugosum philodendron

rugosum philodendron Philodendron rugosum – Thick, Bullate 'Pig Skin' Leaves

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Description

rugosum philodendron Philodendron rugosum – Thick, Bullate 'Pig Skin' LeavesPhilodendron rugosum Bogner and G. S. Bunting rare leathery leaf aroid from Ecuador Philodendron rugosum, known as the Pigskin Philodendron, is a hemiepiphytic climber native to Ecuadors humid premontane forests. Described in 1977 by Josef Bogner and George Bunting, it is valued for its thick, textured, heart shaped foliage and its steady vertical growth on textured supports. Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, it is a plant of both ornamental

Philodendron rugosum Bogner and G.S. Bunting – rare leathery-leaf aroid from Ecuador

Philodendron rugosum, known as the “Pigskin Philodendron,” is a hemiepiphytic climber native to Ecuador’s humid premontane forests. Described in 1977 by Josef Bogner and George Bunting, it is valued for its thick, textured, heart-shaped foliage and its steady vertical growth on textured supports. Classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, it is a plant of both ornamental and conservation interest.

Standout features of Philodendron rugosum

  • Signature texture: Deeply coriaceous blades with a grainy “pigskin” surface and pronounced primary venation.
  • Leaf form: Juvenile leaves are smoother and rounder; mature foliage develops heavier texture and a firmer cuticle.
  • Growth habit: Appressed climbing with short internodes on a moss or fibre pole produces larger leaves and better surface quality.
  • Collector status: Rare in cultivation, sought after for its tactile foliage and compact yet architectural habit.

Native range and ecology

  • Distribution: Endemic to Ecuador, primarily in Pastaza province and neighbouring areas.
  • Elevation: 800 – 1 200 m in premontane wet forest.
  • Microhabitat: Shaded, humid slopes and stream margins with organic-rich soils and high year-round moisture.
  • Associated flora: Grows among mosses, epiphytes, and tree ferns in the lower canopy and understory.

Leaf development and anatomy

The species epithet rugosum refers to the wrinkled, textured surface created by bullate lamina and a thick cuticle. Juvenile foliage is softer and less textured; as the plant matures, blades become more rigid, surface texture deepens, and venation stands out more clearly.

Care guide – replicating its natural habitat

  • Light: Bright, indirect light maintains compact nodes and leaf integrity; avoid harsh direct sun.
  • Water: Water when the top 2 – 3 cm of substrate are dry; fully saturate, then drain.
  • Humidity: Prefers 60 – 75% RH; 70%+ enhances texture and reduces leaf-edge browning.
  • Temperature: Ideal 18 – 27 °C; protect from drafts and avoid rapid fluctuations.
  • Substrate: Airy aroid mix (~35% fine orchid bark, 25% coco coir, 20% perlite/pumice, 10% compost, 10% horticultural charcoal).
  • Feeding: Balanced liquid fertiliser at 25 – 50% label rate every 4 – 6 weeks in active growth; adjust to growth speed.
  • Support: Secure stems to a moss or fibre pole at each node to encourage appressed climbing and larger foliage.

Propagation and alternative culture

  • Stem cuttings: Use one-node cuttings; root in moist sphagnum or an airy substrate before potting up.
  • Semi-hydro: Adaptable if transitioned gradually; maintain nutrient balance and root oxygenation.
  • Pruning: Remove leggy or damaged growth to maintain form and encourage branching.

Common problems and solutions

  • Yellow leaves: Usually overwatering or compacted media; refresh substrate and adjust watering rhythm.
  • Browning tips: Low humidity or irregular moisture; raise RH and stabilise watering.
  • Leaf curl: Underwatering or excess heat/light; check moisture and move to filtered light.
  • Slow growth: Increase bright, indirect light and keep feeding consistent.
  • Pests: Monitor for spider mites, thrips, and mealybugs; treat early with targeted controls.

Inflorescence description

Produces a cream to green spathe with a pale green spadix. Flowering is uncommon indoors and mainly of botanical interest; the plant is grown primarily for foliage.

Conservation status and background

Listed as Near Threatened due to habitat destruction in its native range. The combination of unique texture and conservation value makes Philodendron rugosum both a horticultural prize and a reminder of the importance of preserving Andean foothill forests.

Order Philodendron rugosum

Add Philodendron rugosum to your collection for its rare texture and bold vertical habit. With bright filtered light, high humidity, and a textured support, it rewards careful growers with rugged, unforgettable foliage.

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SKU: 74654073181

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amanda
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 5
Very thick but it's great otherwise as a light indoors sunscreen
I didn't mean to buy two, so definitely gonna return one. Two ounces, but for $12 that's pretty decent! Looks like this is mostly made for just the face and neck, so if you use it for your whole body then yeah, not worth the price. But just for the face? This will last me a long time. Most nice face sunscreens are like $20 for 1.5oz so $12 for 2oz is great. I didn't pay enough attention and saw that it was SPF 30 once it got here. Which has me very confused because there's 24% zinc in it. That's almost the cap. Much higher SPF products have half that amount. It also has other plant extracts which are said to boost spf so I really don't get why this is so low. I'm hoping the ppd at least is high, even though we have no way of really knowing with American sunscreens and even companies who do measure are greedy with that information and refuse to tell. So we are left guessing most of the time. But, SPF is UVB rays. UV-burning. Ppd is UVA. UV-aging. Apparently American sunscreens have terrible UVA protection, or they just don't tell us at all. So the fact a few people in here were saying they were tanning through this sunscreen shows me that perhaps it's not very high, or that this is more of an incidental "I'm not going outside too much" sunscreen. Which, not surprising. SPF 30 lol. Its very thick and moisturizing, so this seems like it would be the perfect winter sunscreen when the UV index is low and the air is dry. Its also difficult to find tinted sunscreens for very fair skin. And on the off chance there is one, it's usually either too dark anyway, or has an orange tint. This one may be a sunscreen not best for darker skin types but man is the tint perfect for the palest of us! It has light coverage too. I mean my flaws aren't blurred or anything but my acne scars are a bit lighter colored. And the great thing about tint, is it gives protection again VL/visible light. Only tinted sunscreens offer that extra bit of protection. I just wish the spf were higher! It also has a very light orangey smell. Also is water proof. So they say. It washed off a bit too easy for me to believe that though. All in all it's a nice sunscreen. But I don't think I will re-purchase this once I run out in the warmer months, though I may consider it again once fall hits.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024
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Ale
Houston, US
★★★★★ 4
Clean ingredients, great price, but...
I want to love this product but I personally can't stand the oily texture and the smell. Maybe if you have super dry skin it will feel great on your skin PROS: The ingredients are great! super clean, the percentage of zinc oxide is perfect and almost the highest % recommended by dermatologists, so it protects the skin really well, no white cast because it's slightly tinted (a little cast at the beginning then it fades away) CONS (in my skin): it leaves my face super oily I have to use rice paper after I apply it to absorb the oiliness [sigh], I don't like the smell it bothers me a lot, it smells like old makeup.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024
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SisterGoldenHair
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect Everyday Tinted Face Sunscreen
I am a long-time user of Think body sunscreen and tried this to replace my current department store tinted face sunscreen, which is being discontinued. I was amazed how well this performed, given the low price! It is literally 1/4 of the cost of my current face sunscreen and I am almost as happy with it! It was much lighter in tint than I was expecting, but blended easily and provided more "cosmetic" coverage than my current tinted face sunscreen, but without looking making me look made-up. My skin is light with reddish undertones, and it really helped to tone the red down as well, an unexpected bonus. That said, I typically use make up that is either the 2nd (or occasionally 3rd) from the fairest shade in the line, regardless of brand, and I am not sure how well this product would work on someone whose skin is even a little darker than mine, without being obvious. It is definitely too light for my sons, who have more olive-toned complexions. This product is highly moisturizing, and does take about 10 minutes to "set" before I feel comfortable applying powder to cover up the shine it leaves (a little more than a "glow"). Its efficacy is excellent--I really put it to the test outdoors and was pleased to see I had not to picked up any color from the sun when I washed it off. The other big plus is that it did not make me break out, and I have what my dermatologist calls, "reactive skin," which means anything from chemicals in face products to the hairdryer at the salon have been known to set it off. Finally, like their body sunscreen this face sunscreen gets a safety rating of "1" from the Environmental Working Group. I think I have found a winner!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2019
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Michelle Cilibraise
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice face sunscreen!
Great face sunscreen! It has high zinc and looks nice under makeup. I will continue to purchase. Not sure why it’s only a SPF of 30. It has 24% zinc which is higher. It’s a little thicker than some of the thinner ones I’ve used but I like that. I feel I’m getting good coverage
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Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2026
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Robert I. Hedges
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 3
An Effective Sunscreen With Some Drawbacks
I like the safety and effectiveness of Thinksport tinted sunscreen. It's formulated carefully and I found it quite effective; I appreciate that it's not tested on animals. It is easy to apply and blends in with no chalky or white residue and doesn't come off easily (in fact washing it off later is not especially easy). I very much appreciated its effectiveness as I didn't ever burn when using this tube. With all that in mind why did I give it only three stars and throw away the tube before I even used half of it? Two reasons: I frequently run while wearing sunscreen and that, obviously, leads to sweating. When you sweat with this anything that you touch with a treated surface will be smeared with the brown tint of the sunscreen (particularly your shirt when your face, neck, or arms contact it, which may be more than you think). This looks akin to pancake makeup on clothes. It washed out of the shirts I got it on, but they did seem to get dingier after multiple cycles (especially around the collar). The second reason I didn't like this sunscreen is that when applied to the forehead and then perspiring this product really stung my eyes. I have had that product with some other brands as well, so it's definitely not a Thinksport exclusive issue, but still it's annoying. I used almost half the tube then switched back to my normal brand, which while also not ideal in some ways, doesn't have these issues. I have not given up on the Thinksport brand entirely, as I have recently purchased some of their untinted sunscreen. I have only used it a few times, but initial impressions are good. If you are unconcerned about the issues of staining from this product or you don't plan to wear it while doing anything strenuous, the tinted Thinksport sunscreen product may work great for you: it's easy to apply and quite effective.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2018

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