Philodendron ‘Orange Princess’

The Orange Princess name in cultivation

Orange Princess is the horticultural name for a climbing Philodendron with persistent orange, peach, cream and green variegation.

Care for a climbing variegated Philodendron

• Light for mixed sectors: Strong diffuse light supports the green tissue beside orange, cream and yellow areas. Pale sections need gradual acclimatisation.
• Water through the pot: Allow the upper mix to dry slightly before a thorough soak. Drain all excess so the roots regain air promptly.
• Warm growth and feeding: Keep Philodendron ‘Orange Princess’ warm; moderate humidity with air movement suits emerging variegated leaves. Use a gentle complete feed during active growth.
• Support and propagation: Add a pole or trellis while the climbing stem is still flexible, and choose a larger stable pot when roots occupy the container. Propagate from a stem node that includes a healthy green section; colour balance can change between shoots.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Philodendron ‘Orange Princess’

• Warm-coloured sectors: Orange, apricot, peach, cream and yellow-green blocks can be normal, especially on young leaves. Follow their irregular pattern from node to node.
• Soft crown or roots: Wilting while the mix remains wet calls for a root and stem check. Remove dead roots, refresh dense mix and keep rapidly softening tissue away from other plants.
• Pests around the climbing stem: Look in central sheaths and beneath the leaves. Silvered scars with black spots support thrips; fine stippling or webbing points to mites; cottony clusters indicate mealybugs. Treat the hidden areas and first try the treatment on one pale section.
• Brown sector margins: Check heat, strong light, watering and salt build-up. Dry damage contained within a pale block often stops when the stress ends. Dampness crossing from the pale block into green tissue is a reason to place the Philodendron ‘Orange Princess’ apart and avoid wetting its leaves.
• Pattern loss: A greener shoot comes from a growth point carrying less variegation. Pruning can select another bud, but neither stronger light nor extra fertiliser can make that green shoot produce missing orange or cream areas.

Philodendron ‘Orange Princess’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

The meaning and history of Philodendron

Philodendron combines Greek philein, meaning “to love,” with dendron, meaning “tree.”

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Philodendron in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 780.