Unlikely — Zone Mismatch
philodendron (zones 11-12) does not overlap with Louisiana's zone range (8b-10b). Growing outdoors is unlikely without significant protection.
One zone short — what would close it
Philodendron is hardy to zone 11, and the warmest ground in Louisiana is zone 10 — 1 zone short. Planted in open ground it will not survive a Louisiana winter. To grow it here, grow philodendron in a hoop house or unheated greenhouse — its modeled 1.5-zone lift covers this gap.
A hoop house or unheated greenhouse is the lift this needs. How a greenhouse changes what you can grow →
Zone math from 11-12 (plant) against 8-10 (Louisiana). Lift modeled by crop_engine.GREENHOUSE_ZONE_MODIFIER_BY_SUBTYPE['hoop_house'] (+1.5 zones) via api/fast_sections.py Unlock Engine v2.
Philodendron in Louisiana — the short answer
Philodendron in Louisiana: hardy in zones 11–12, part sun, against a state median of ~298 frost-free days.
- Plant zones
- 11-12
- Manual horticultural correction (source not retained); NC State Extension and Missouri Botanical Garden, with the remaining rows from other published sources or Growable Ground compilation
- Louisiana zones
- 8b-10b
- USDA PHZM 2023
- Frost window
- Jan 30 - Feb 17 – Nov 30 - Dec 8
- NOAA RCC ACIS 1991-2020, 28°F
- Shortest county season
- 265 days
- NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020, county 28°F killing freeze
Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS and university Extension sources — per-field provenance varies and is published with the dataset.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Louisiana spans zones 8b-10b, but your yard has its own microclimate — slope, trees, and low spots shift frost and sun across a single parcel. Enter your address and we'll score philodendron against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Louisiana is not one climate
A single Louisiana answer averages 64 counties whose growing seasons are 100 days apart — from 265 frost-free days in Claiborne County to 365 in Plaquemines County. Which end of that your land sits nearer changes what philodendron can finish before the first hard freeze.
The middle half of 64 counties runs 285–313 days, with a median of 298 days — a 100-day span end to end.
Measured across 64 Louisiana counties. NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020, county 28°F killing freeze. Quartiles are order statistics — every figure shown is a value a real county recorded, not an interpolation. Your own site sits somewhere inside this range; a parcel report resolves where.
Where Philodendron Stands in Louisiana
Philodendron is rated for zones 11–12 — a cold floor USDA puts at 40 to 50°F. No Louisiana county sits inside it, so in open ground this is a grown-under-cover plant here rather than a bed plant — which is a statement about Louisiana winters, not about philodendron.
Below the zone 11 floor
64 counties
- Bienville County · zone 8b
- Bossier County · zone 8b
- Caddo County · zone 8b
3 of 64 shown
Winter cold is the limit here — the same plant works in a container that comes under cover.
County hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM) 2023, per county. A zone is a 10°F band of average annual extreme minimum temperature, so the floor above is the band the plant's rating denotes, not a single measured kill point. Slope, shelter and cold-air drainage routinely move a site half a zone either way from its county figure — which is the part only your address resolves.
Zone Comparison
Philodendron Needs
- USDA Zones: 11-12
- Frost-Free Days: 365+
- Sun: Part Sun
- Mature size: 4 ft tall
- Drought tolerance: Medium
Louisiana Has
- USDA Zones: 8b-10b
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Jan 30 - Feb 17
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 30 - Dec 8
- Annual Rainfall: 50-65 inches
- Common Soils: Alluvial clay, Muck, Sandy loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 11-12)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: Growable Ground Plant Database, compiled from FAO ECOCROP, USDA PLANTS, and university Extension sources — per-field provenance varies and is published with the dataset. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Philodendron in Louisiana
The frost window
Across Louisiana, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Jan 30 and Feb 17, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 30 and Dec 8 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 286-day window you can count on — up to 312 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Claiborne County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: Growable Ground Plant Database — frost-free days from FAO ECOCROP, days to harvest from university Extension production guides, and growing-degree-day and chill-hour minimums that are compilation estimates rather than published figures. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
The zone check says philodendron does not survive a Louisiana winter in the ground. The season figures below measure a different question — whether it could finish a season here at all — and they only bear on Louisiana under protection.
Frost-free days
Philodendron wants 365+ frost-free days; a typical Louisiana site sees ~298 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020) — 67 days short of what it needs. A typical Louisiana season does not carry this crop to harvest outdoors, and a gap that size is not one an earlier sowing date or a faster cultivar closes; growing it here means growing it under cover.
GDD and chill-hour figures are computed from PRISM 1991-2020 monthly climate normals; frost-free days from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020. Each is the state median across its counties (P25/P75 span the within-state spread). Hardiness-zone range is USDA PHZM 2023.
Soil + Drainage Fit
Philodendron likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-7.5). That's the common-ground band across Louisiana's alluvial clay and muck — a soil test confirms it for your site. It will grow across that whole span, but it does best between pH 5.5 and 6 — worth knowing before you decide whether a Louisiana soil test result is a problem or just a number. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Louisiana site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
SSURGO maps about 45.5% of Louisiana as poorly or somewhat-poorly drained, and the class flips parcel to parcel. Philodendron sits mid-range for drought tolerance, so either extreme can cost you — your soil map unit, not the state average, is the real answer.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH requirements: FAO ECOCROP and USDA PLANTS, with the remaining rows from other published sources or Growable Ground compilation. Drainage: FAO ECOCROP, with the remaining rows from other published sources or Growable Ground compilation. Louisiana soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
What Else to Consider for Philodendron in Louisiana
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Louisiana growers also need to think about:
Extreme humidity and rainfall promote rot and fungal diseases
Poor drainage in delta and coastal areas
Hurricane damage risk from June through November
Growing philodendron here specifically
Philodendron rates to USDA zones 11–12 and takes frost damage on growing tissue around 30°F (FAO ECOCROP), but cold isn't the risk in Louisiana — wet is: with roughly 45.5% of its soils poorly-drained (SSURGO), soggy ground rots the roots.
Give philodendron a raised bed or mounded row with coarse amendment so its roots never sit wet. How to handle it →
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every Louisiana grower, not just philodendron — is covered on the Louisiana growing guide.
Timing shifts within Louisiana
Louisiana isn't one climate. In Claiborne County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Mar 2 — roughly 19 days later than the recorded state median — so plant philodendron to your county's window, not the statewide date.
Philodendron needs about 365 days of frost-free season to complete its cycle. 1 of Louisiana’s 64 counties give it that outright. The tightest that does is Plaquemines County at 365 frost-free days — 0 to spare. Below that line you are transplanting or extending the season, not direct-sowing.
Across Louisiana’s 64 counties the frost-free season runs from 265 days in Claiborne County to 365 days in Plaquemines County — a spread of 100 days, which is why a single statewide planting date misleads. The median Louisiana county sees 298 frost-free days, which is 67 days short of what philodendron needs — so on a typical Louisiana parcel this is a transplant-or-protect crop, not a direct-sow one.
County last-freeze dates and frost-free day counts: NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS (1991-2020), county 28°F freeze (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). Philodendron's 365-day requirement: USDA PLANTS / Growable Ground plant database (minimum frost-free days). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Good to Know Before You Plant Philodendron
Philodendron is listed as toxic to dogs, cats (all) at a moderate level (ASPCA). Most listed plants only cause brief upset — a raised bed or a fenced corner usually keeps curious pets clear. Parts of philodendron carry moderate toxicity for people, so know which parts are edible before harvest. Worth knowing for placement: in Louisiana this is a one-season plant and the first hard freeze (Nov 30 - Dec 8) takes it down, so the exposure above is a summer-long one rather than something standing in the bed all year.
Louisiana Cooperative Extension
For Louisiana-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for philodendron, the canonical source is LSU AgCenter. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Philodendron native to Louisiana?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Philodendron as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Louisiana's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Louisiana natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Louisiana growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Philodendron in Louisiana
When can I plant Philodendron in Louisiana?
Louisiana's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Jan 30 and Feb 17, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 30 and Dec 8 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Time outdoor planting to after the last hard freeze for your specific site — a further two to three weeks for anything tender — and count back from those dates for transplant scheduling.
What hardiness zone is Philodendron grown in across Louisiana?
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8b-10b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Philodendron carries a range of zones 11-12, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Louisiana site have?
A typical Louisiana site sees ~298 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Philodendron needs 365+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Claiborne, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Philodendron native to Louisiana?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Philodendron as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Louisiana's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Louisiana natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Philodendron in Louisiana?
Philodendron prefers pH 5-7.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (FAO ECOCROP). That sits in the common-ground band across Louisiana soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Philodendron actually grow on my specific land in Louisiana?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores philodendron against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Louisiana
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores philodendron against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that Louisiana philodendron averages can't show:
We read public map data around Louisiana — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources read at your address, not the Louisiana philodendron average
Explore More
Growing guides for philodendron
Explore Louisiana county by county
Louisiana carries 64 counties with their own USDA zone — a sample of the growing pages for philodendron there:
Where else philodendron grows
Philodendron's zone band crosses state lines — these are the states closest to Louisiana in winter climate where it also has a page, plus the far ends of its range. Each one re-answers the question with that state's own record.
More to grow in Louisiana
Louisiana has a growing page for 1,030 plants — a rotating sample of the rest of the shelf.
Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →
Cite this dataset
Kirchick, M. (2026). Growable Ground Plant Database [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21435643
Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21435643
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