Rhaphidophora hayi – Shingling Vine from Queensland Rainforests

Rhaphidophora hayi – Shingling Vine from Queensland Rainforests

Rhaphidophora hayi is a remarkable climbing aroid native to the tropical rainforests of Queensland and Papua New Guinea. Known for its striking shingling habit, the plant’s juvenile leaves press tightly against surfaces as it climbs, making it an exceptional candidate for mounting or growing on totems. In its natural habitat, it scales tree trunks under the dense rainforest canopy.

Distinctive Features

• Shingling growth: Juvenile leaves lie flat against climbing surfaces, creating a decorative, layered appearance.
• Velvety foliage: Young leaves are ovate, smooth, and often exhibit a deep green hue with slight sheen.
• Climbing aroid: This hemiepiphyte roots into surfaces as it grows upward, thriving best when provided with vertical support.

Care Tips

• Light: Prefers bright, indirect light. Can tolerate lower light but will grow more slowly and may lose its compact shingle habit.
• Water: Keep soil lightly moist but never soggy. Allow the top few centimetres to dry between waterings.
• Humidity: Thrives in high humidity (60–80%). Benefits from regular misting or a humidifier indoors.
• Media: Use a well-draining aroid mix—blend orchid bark, perlite, coco coir, and a small amount of charcoal.
• Temperature: Best kept in warm temperatures between 18–28°C. Sensitive to cold and should be protected from drafts.
• Fertiliser: Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2–4 weeks during the growing season.
• Repotting: Repot every 1–2 years or when roots outgrow the container. Use a deep pot or mount on a moss pole for vertical growth.

Additional Notes

• Excellent candidate for terrariums or mounted displays due to its compact and vertical nature.
• Toxic to pets if ingested—keep out of reach of cats and dogs.
• Slow to moderate grower, particularly during cooler months.

This intriguing species, Rhaphidophora hayi, rewards patient growers with a living tapestry of pressed foliage. It is perfect for plant enthusiasts who enjoy training vines or creating vertical green features in their indoor spaces.