Rhaphidophora hayi (Shingle Plant)

Rhaphidophora hayi is a compact evergreen climbing aroid in the Araceae family native to the tropical rainforests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. It is highly prized for its distinctive shingling growth habit, with juvenile stems producing small, thick, heart-shaped leaves that lie flat against tree trunks or other vertical surfaces. Unlike many climbing aroids, the overlapping foliage remains closely pressed to its support, creating an elegant, living green mosaic. In cultivation, it thrives on moss poles, wooden boards, or tree fern panels, where it readily attaches with aerial roots.

Rhaphidophora hayi grows best in bright indirect light, warm temperatures, high humidity, and a well-drained, moisture-retentive potting mix. It prefers evenly moist soil but should not be allowed to remain waterlogged. Hardy in USDA Zones 11-12, it is most often grown as a houseplant or in tropical gardens. Protect from temperatures below about 40F. Rhaphidophora hayi is sometimes confused with other shingling aroids because juvenile plants share a similar habit of producing small leaves that cling tightly to a vertical surface. Mature plants are easier to recognize, as R. hayi usually retains relatively small, overlapping leaves that remain closely appressed to the support, forming a distinctive shingling pattern rather than producing larger leaves that project away from the climbing surface.