'Pink Princess' philodendron guide

What it is

‘Pink Princess’ is a climbing philodendron with dark, almost black-green leaves splashed with bubblegum pink. It is a form of Philodendron erubescens. Each leaf is different. Some have a few pink streaks, some are half pink. Select-A-Plant lists it as a climber, 90 cm to 1.2 m (3 to 4 ft) tall.

How to tell it apart

Plant	Leaves	The tell
‘Pink Princess’	Dark green with random pink splashes	The pink is in streaks and sections, and it stays
‘Pink Congo’	Solid bright pink leaves	Whole leaves turn pink, then fade to green in a few months
‘Birkin’ philodendron	Dark green with thin white pinstripes	White lines, not pink patches

‘Pink Congo’ is a regular philodendron treated with chemicals to turn new leaves pink. The pink does not last. It is the biggest red flag when you shop.

Care differences

The pink parts cannot make food. Give it bright indirect light to keep it growing and keep the pink. In low light, new leaves come in dark with little pink.

It is a climber. A moss pole grows bigger leaves. All-pink leaves often brown and die back. That is normal.

Keeping the pink

If new leaves come in with less pink, move the plant to brighter light. If a stem puts out several all-dark leaves, cut it back to a node above the last leaf with good pink. Check the stem. Pink streaks on the stem are a good sign for the next leaf.

Grow it from a cutting

Take cuttings from stems with pink at the node. Root them in damp sphagnum moss or water. Roots take three to five weeks.

Buying it

‘Pink Princess’ used to be rare. It is now sold at plant shops and some garden centers. Before you buy:

• Look for pink on several leaves and on the stem.
• Skip plants with solid pink leaves and no dark green. That is likely ‘Pink Congo’.
• A plant with only one pink leaf may not keep the color.