Philodendron Pink Princess
Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess'
Parent species: Philodendron erubescens
Not a hybrid. It's a chimera with two genetically different cell populations in one plant. Every leaf is a surprise, and that's the whole appeal.
Buy This Plant - $75.00Care Guide
Light
Bright Indirect
Water
Water when the top 2 inches are dry, roughly once a week in the warm months. In fall and winter, stretch it to every 10-14 days. Not sure if it needs water? Wait a day. Pink Princess handles a little drought way better than soggy roots.
Humidity
50-60%
Temperature
65-80°F
Soil
Equal parts potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark. Classic aroid mix. Drains fast enough to prevent root rot but holds enough moisture that you're not watering every other day.
Propagation
Here's the key: make sure your cutting includes pink in the stem, not just the leaf. Cut below a node, grab 2-3 leaves, and root in water or sphagnum moss under bright indirect light. Roots show up in 2-4 weeks. Moss rooting is gentler when you transplant, if you've got the patience.
Common Problems
New leaves coming out solid green? It needs more light. Prune back to the last node that had pink and it should bounce back. Got a leaf that's entirely pink? Remove it. As cool as it looks, all-pink leaves can't photosynthesize and they'll drain energy from the rest of the plant.
Fun Facts
- Pink Princess is a chimera, meaning it carries two genetically distinct cell types in one plant. The pink parts have anthocyanin pigment but zero chlorophyll, caused by a mutation in the growth tip. Every leaf is basically a genetic coin flip!
- The species epithet erubescens means 'blushing' in Latin — describing the reddish coloring that runs through the leaves, stems, and spathe throughout the plant's life.
- Nobody actually knows where this plant came from. A Florida grower in the 1970s claimed he bred it from seven parent plants, but a botanist later proved some of those crosses were genetically impossible. Best guess? It just happened. Spontaneous mutation.
- It was never patented, which is wild for a plant this distinctive. There's zero record of it in R.H. McColley's breeding program either, and that guy documented everything. It's like the plant just showed up one day and nobody can explain it.
Toxicity Warning
Toxic to cats and dogs. Contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause mouth irritation, drooling, and stomach upset. Not lethal, but definitely not a snack.