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Description
philodendron jose buono variegated Philodendron Jose Buono | Large Variegated Collector PlantThe Philodendron 'Jose Buono' is a massive, structural titan of the variegated plant world. Highly coveted for its large, elongated, spade shaped leaves, this plant is a true master of variegation. Unlike many other variegated species, the Jose Buono is famously "stable," meaning it reliably produces spectacular patterns of splashes, blocks, and marbling in shades of star white, cream, and neon yellow against a rich emerald green backdrop. As a large
The Philodendron 'Jose Buono' is a massive, structural titan of the variegated plant world. Highly coveted for its large, elongated, spade-shaped leaves, this plant is a true master of variegation. Unlike many other variegated species, the Jose Buono is famously "stable," meaning it reliably produces spectacular patterns of splashes, blocks, and marbling in shades of star-white, cream, and neon yellow against a rich emerald green backdrop.
As a large-form climber, this plant is built for scale. With proper support, the leaves can grow impressively large—sometimes reaching over 2 feet in length—creating a lush, tropical wall of high-contrast foliage. It is a vigorous grower that manages to be both a rare collector's specimen and a relatively hardy companion for those who have mastered basic aroid care.
The "Stable" Variegation King
One of the greatest appeals of the Jose Buono is its reliable variegation. While most variegated plants risk "reverting" to solid green in lower light, the Jose Buono is known for maintaining its white and cream splashes quite well. However, providing optimal light will always reward you with more dramatic and blocky white patches.
Size Matters: Give it Support!
To see the true glory of a Jose Buono, you must provide it with a heavy-duty moss pole or a sturdy cedar plank. As a natural hemiepiphyte, it uses its thick aerial roots to anchor itself and climb. Vertical support signals the plant to size up its foliage, transforming it from a medium-sized houseplant into a massive, floor-to-ceiling focal point.
Caution: Toxic to Pets
Like all Philodendrons, the Jose Buono contains calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing or ingesting the leaves or stems can cause severe mouth irritation, drooling, and stomach upset in cats, dogs, and humans. Please keep this large-leaf beauty out of reach of curious pets and toddlers.
Light
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Bright, indirect light is the key to massive leaves and high-contrast variegation. A spot near a large east-facing window or a few feet back from a south/west window is ideal. It can tolerate slightly lower light than other rare variegated plants, but its growth rate and variegation intensity will slow down. Never place it in harsh, direct afternoon sun, which will scorch the delicate white sections of the leaves.
Watering
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Allow the top 50% of the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly. The Jose Buono prefers consistent moisture but hates "wet feet." Ensure water drains freely from the bottom of the pot. In the humid climates of India, watering every 7–10 days is typical, but always check the soil moisture with your finger first.
Humidity
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While it is more adaptable than many rare aroids, it truly thrives in humidity levels above 60%. High humidity ensures that the large new leaves emerge smoothly from their sheaths without getting stuck or tearing. If your home air is dry, use a humidifier or group it with other plants to create a microclimate.
Growing Media
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A chunky, ultra-well-draining aroid mix is non-negotiable for these thick roots. Do not use dense potting soil. Combine high-quality potting soil with equal parts orchid bark, coarse perlite, and horticultural charcoal. This ensures the roots stay aerated and prevents the onset of root rot.
Feeding
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This is a vigorous grower that appreciates regular nutrients. Feed every two to four weeks during the active spring and summer months using a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Pause fertilization during the cooler winter months when growth naturally slows.
Common Issues & Quick Fixes
Brown, Crispy Patches on Variegated Areas
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This is usually a sign of low humidity or inconsistent watering. The white parts of the leaf do not photosynthesize and are the first to suffer if the plant is stressed. Increase ambient humidity and ensure you are using filtered or dechlorinated water to prevent mineral salt build-up on the leaves.
Leaves Getting Smaller or Leggy
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If new leaves are emerging smaller than the previous ones, the plant is either lacking light or lacking vertical support. Move it closer to a bright light source and ensure it is firmly attached to a moss pole. Without something to climb, the plant will never reach its mature leaf size.
Yellowing Lower Leaves
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Occasional yellowing of the oldest leaf is normal. However, if multiple leaves are turning yellow and mushy, it is a definitive sign of overwatering. Check the soil mix and reduce watering frequency immediately.
Quick Plant Profile
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| Botanical Name | Philodendron 'Jose Buono' |
| Common Names | Jose Buono Philodendron |
| Family | Araceae (Aroid family) |
| Origin | Cultivar (Species native to South America) |
| Leaf Detail | Large, elongated spade-shaped leaves with stable splashes of white and cream variegation. |
| Growth Habit | Vigorous large-form climber. Requires a sturdy moss pole. |
| Watering Rule | Allow top 50% of soil to dry out. Sensitive to waterlogging. |
| Light | Bright indirect light. Maintains variegation well even in moderate light. |
| Humidity | Prefers high humidity (60%+). Helps large leaves unfurl perfectly. |
| Temperature | 18°C–29°C. Protect from cold drafts and frost. |
| Toxicity | Contains calcium oxalate. Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans if ingested. |
| Ideal For | Aroid collectors, large indoor spaces, statement corners, moss pole setups. |
| Care Level | Intermediate — Vigorous and resilient, but needs space and chunky soil. |
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4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 21 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 4
A Remarkable Book--I Want More Like It!
Format: Kindle
I stumbled on Remarkably Bright Creatures among my recommendations. As often happens, the premise intrigued me enough to read it even though I didn't know the author. Well, if Shelby Van Pelt often writes like this, I definitely want more of her books.
The friendship between Tova the aquarium cleaning lady and Marcellus the giant Pacific octopus is a definite selling point in this book. It's a great twist on the "A Kid and Their X" trope (the kind of thing you see in stuff like Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, Free Willy, and so forth). This one, I am pleased to report, is far less cheesy and saccharine. Tova is a multifaceted character whose life may seem small in her estimation, and probably is if we go by what is a "normal" life in a small seaside town. Yet that life has been stuffed with complex emotions, unanswered questions, and a longing for "more" that I think everybody can relate to. At least, I certainly could.
As for Marcellus, he's multifaceted, too. A part of me did stick with his point of view, and story, because it is a story of a "remarkably bright," underestimated creature trapped and controlled in a world he doesn't understand. I have cerebral palsy and was diagnosed as level 1 autistic this spring; I'm still looking back and trying to heal from a lot of the latter's implications. So in a visceral way, yeah. I'm not a captive animal or mistreated, but I understood how Marcellus felt. What I liked even better about his story though, is that Marcellus' story doesn't stop there.
Marcellus actually has a life and a history that Shelby Van Pelt, Tova, Cameron, and other characters dig into. He's not just a captive yearning for freedom and mourning lost opportunities, as often happens with similar stories. He makes wry, witty, yet quiet, non-snarky observations about humans. He cares deeply for Tova because she took time to know him as a "person," but also because she's the only human who has ever stopped long enough for Marcellus to know as a real "person." Marcellus gets to be the conduit of real revelation and change for people inside and outside his world. That's amazing, and frankly, it's a lot more than many human characters get.
Remarkably Bright Creatures couldn't succeed with just Tova or Marcellus though, or at least not as well as it did, I think. The other characters pop off the page as well. Cameron is my favorite, precisely because I didn't expect to like him at first. By his own admission, he comes off as a burnout and a loser, and I admit, that's how I saw him to begin with. But as with Tova and Marcellus, Cameron is hiding a lot of layers, a lot of depth. He's got a great heart, but he's still a typical, kinda clueless 30-year-old guy (and I'm still a 30-something so I say that tongue in cheek). He's vulnerable but not pitiful; he plays the victim sometimes, but then he gets mad at being called out on that and wants to do better. He struggles and is a burnout, but he's got good, solid friends and some real interests and potential. In other words, I got really into his arc, especially once Tova, Marcellus, and even Ethan got involved.
As for Ethan, he's unexpectedly cool, as well. I admit some brownie points with him, as I love all things Scottish or Irish and he is of Scottish descent. But I also didn't expect a shopkeeper in his '70s with a gruff edge to be a Grateful Dead fan or to get along so well with a neat and tidy, tiny Swedish aquarium cleaner, so brownie points on plot and character there. In fact, Ethan's role in the story, in particular, went all kinds of unexpected places, so without spoiling anything, I'll tell you to keep an eye on it.
Finally, Shelby wins some extra brownie points for a lot of the "little" things that "pop" out at me when reading a book like this one. For instance, I love cats and love the reluctant yet affectionate relationship Tova develops with a stray cat. I love Marcellus' Collection and the pride and care he takes in it. I love and felt some heartbreak over Tova's reminiscing about the attic playroom that never got to be a playroom.
But I think the thing I loved most about Remarkably Bright Creatures is how remarkable Shelby showed readers humans--and creatures--can be, without getting heavy-handed or cheesy. There are some romances here, so to speak, but this is a relationship novel, and those are, have been for the past several years, some of my favorite ones.
There is some language here, so caveat emptor if that's not your thing. From a writer's perspective, I also wondered how much some threads or characters were actually needed. For instance, looking back, I understand why Tova had a brother, but I'm unsure how much he furthered the plot. Similarly, I understand the roles of Avery and Marco but again, am unsure how much they furthered the plot.
Also, I almost hate to say it, and I could be wrong about this. After all, I know about as much concerning octopi as the average person who watches Jeopardy (which I do). But while Marcellus' plot thread is great, and while I definitely understand suspension of disbelief, I did wonder along with Cameron how much those boundaries were pushed. I mean, I buy Marcellus getting out of his tank, and with the right Collection items, I guess Tova and Cameron could've figured out whatever they needed to know. But...there's a logical shard of me that isn't quite sure she buys how everything lined up, I guess.
All that aside though, Remarkably Bright Creatures is still a remarkable book. As often happens, I'm now eager to find more like it. And yes, it does get a hearty recommendation. At the very least, I'll want to take closer looks next time I go to an aquarium.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful!
Format: Kindle
I heard about this book in a conversation at a craft party and ordered it the same night. I was not disappointed. I fell in love with Marcellus and Tova and their delightful relationship, and with all the ancillary characters that made this book so special. The ending was so very sweet and satisfying as well. Great 1st book!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
★★★★★ 5
It was as good as I'd hoped.
Format: Kindle
Marcellus McSquiddles, the giant Pacific Octopus who has lived at the Sowell Bay Aquarium for going on four years, is often exasperated with the humans who stare at him all day. But there is one human who is different. She speaks to him and more importantly, she keeps his nocturnal escapes from his tank, a secret. Tova is a gentle woman, a widower and still dealing with the loss of her son, more than thirty years ago.
When someone new strolls into town, Cameron Cassmore, looking for his dead beat father, he and Tova's lives will become inextricably linked, if they're not already. And Marcellus sees all of this and does his best to assist, where he can, since for the most part, he notices that haumans can be rather dull. But though, sometimes, especially in the case of Tova, there a a few who are remarkably bright.
This was a sweet, genuine, heartfelt and beautifully written, fun read. Van Pelt has created a delightfully jaded and long-suffering, sighing character in the form of Marcellus and he and Tova's story is told in such a unique and imaginative way. I'd been meaning to read this for so long and I'm so glad I finally did.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
★★★★★ 5
A remarkable story
Format: Hardcover
What a wonderful surprise this was! I thought Remarkably Bright Creatures was a story about a woman and an octopus, but it turned out to be so much more than that. This is Shelby Van Pelt’s first book, and I don’t think a debut has affected me like this since I read Hollow Kingdom, another story that unfolds through the eyes of an animal. The story has a bit of magical realism to it, in the sense that parts of it are told from the octopus’s point of view, but otherwise it’s simply a delightful tale about family and connections that had me ugly crying by the end of the book.
In the first chapter we meet Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus on display in the Sowell Bay Aquarium near Puget Sound. Marcellus has been in captivity for 1,299 days, and based on his life expectancy of about four years, he believes he only has a handful of days left to live. His dreary days in a small glass enclosure are broken up by secret nighttime excursions, as Marcellus is extremely smart and has found a way out of his tank.
Tova Sullivan is a seventy-year-old woman who has been working nights at the aquarium as a cleaning lady for the past two years. Tova knows how to remove the hundreds of fingerprints on the tank walls and can polish the floors to a brilliant shine. She’s also quite fond of the sea creatures she encounters each night, especially Marcellus, and the two have formed an unusual bond since Tova saved Marcellus one night after he escaped and became entangled in a bunch of electrical cords.
Next, we meet Cameron Cassmore, a thirty-year-old man who is drifting through life with no real purpose. Cameron lives in California, and one day his aunt gives him a box of his estranged mother’s things. Inside the box he finds a photo and an old class ring, clues that could lead to the identity of his father, a man he never knew. Cameron hops on a plane to Washington state, convinced the man he thinks is his father—a rich real estate tycoon—will be so distraught over abandoning his son, he’ll shower Cam with money. At least that’s the plan.
Finally, Ethan Mack is the owner of Sowell Bay’s Shop-Way, the local grocery store. Ethan has known Tova for years and secretly has a crush on her, but Tova is much too distant to notice his interest. When Cameron shows up at the Shop-Way looking for a job, Ethan directs him to his friend who manages the aquarium, which is how Cameron and Tova meet.
Tying all these characters together is Marcellus, a remarkably bright octopus with a penchant for stealing and hoarding the treasures he finds after hours on the aquarium floor, and who just might be able to bring two people together who need each other—but don’t yet realize it.
Van Pelt’s chapters alternate among all these characters and introduce a slew of side characters as well, each one vitally important to the story. At first, we don’t realize how each character is connected to the next, but slowly the author reveals her secrets until the stunned reader begins to understand the depth of these connections. Each character is given a detailed backstory that becomes very important to the plot. Tova’s story in particular was heart wrenching, as she has experienced quite a bit of loss in her life and finds herself mostly alone in her twilight years. Luckily she belongs to a group of women who call themselves the Knit-Wits, and the four of them meet weekly to eat, drink, gossip and support each other. Tova came to America from Sweden as a little girl, so the story is filled with details about growing up with her Swedish mother and father. Even the Dala horses her mother collected play a part in the story, and I found these little details added so much richness.
At first I couldn’t figure out how Cameron fit it, but once he arrives in Sowell Bay and meets Ethan and Tova, his story takes on new meaning. Cameron meets a woman named Avery who also plays a vital part in filling in some of the missing pieces about Cameron’s father, and I loved the way the author gave even the most insignificant side characters meaning and purpose.
Van Pelt infuses her story with so many emotional moments and themes. We see how the Knit-Wits are going through the aging process, as their numbers have dwindled over the last few years. Tova is facing being alone in her old age, with no children or husband to take care of her, and so she makes the rash decision to sell her beloved house and move into a retirement community. I don’t want to give too many details about Tova’s past and her losses, because I think it’s better to discover those revelations for yourself. Let’s just say that I felt Tova’s pain and wanted nothing more than for her to be happy.
And Van Pelt includes so many funny moments in her story that kept the tone light, despite some of the more heavy themes. There’s an ongoing bit about Cameron’s lost luggage that was hysterically funny, and Tova inherits a stray cat at one point, which was a delightful side plot. I also loved the story about the t-shirt that Tova uses to clean Ethan’s kitchen—you’ll just have to read the book so you can experience the hilarity too!
And of course, I can’t forget the star of the story, Marcellus the octopus. As the days tick by—each of his chapters starts with a marker (“Day 1,299 of my captivity”, etc)---the tension builds as Marcellus gets closer to his impending death (at least that’s what he thinks). Marcellus understands human nature more than most humans, and I loved the way he wisely intuits each character’s needs. Ultimately, this is a story about creatures—both human and animal—saving each other. The way Marcellus’s story plays out was absolutely perfect—heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
This is a very special book, and I’m so glad I was able to finally read it. Highly recommended!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
★★★★★ 4
loved it!
Format: Kindle
Really enjoyed this book! My coworker begged me to read it for years but I didn't think I'd like it. I thought it would be a fantasy with talking creatures - if you're not into that, don't worry, it's not.
Very good storyline that moved along quickly. Hallmark, feel-good book, but wasn't cheesy or overdone. Would definitely recommend (just like my coworker said)
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026