My friend's parents recently purchased a house on Padre Island. There were two philodendron planted out front of the house that were obviously constantly scorched by sun, the leaves would barely grow at all before they were burnt off, but the plants seemed older. They tore them out, so of course I kept one, and have been nursing it back to health and leaves were forming slowly. Now it seems to be flourishing--putting off a new leaf all the time, and the new leaves keep popping up larger and larger. There are SO MANY types of philodendron. How can you tell what you have?

I looks to me like Tree Philodendron (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum)
I have had one growing in my yard for well over 20 years. If freezes back when we have a lot of freezing days (not this year) but it always bounces bad in the summer. It grows in full sun here and I do nothing for it and it is getting really big.

http://floridata.com/Plants/Ar...

Definitely looks similar. Thanks for the input and response

I find myself so lost in the world of philos.

@LariAnn Can I borrow your expertise?

Jay is correct. Philodendron bipinnatifidum.

Philodendrons fall into several major groups - the "tree" types (meconostigmas), the viners, and the creepers. James, yours is in the meconostigma group. They are generally distinguished by their heavy trunks with close-set leaf scars. Viners, well, vine with long internodes and the need to climb up trees, cliffs, or other surfaces (sides of houses?). These can be confused with "pothos" (really Epipremnum) plants that also vine and look a lot like philos. Both Philodendron and Epipremnum are aroids, but different genera. The creepers have shorter internodes than viners and "creep" on the ground. A good example of a creeper is Philodendron gloriosum.

Thank you for the clarification and explanation!