Painted Lady Philodendron

Painted Lady Philodendron (Philodendron erubescens 'Painted Lady') is the climbing aroid for variegation that holds its colour. New leaves unfurl a soft chartreuse yellow marbled with green, and the stems and leaf stalks are a clear rosy pink. Trained up a moss pole it reaches about 1.5m tall and 800mm across indoors, enough to anchor a corner without taking the room over.

Why you'll love it

• Variegation you can rely on. Many marbled philodendrons drift back to plain green in a dim room. This one holds its pattern in bright indirect light.
• Pink stems as a design detail. The rosy leaf stalks read as a deliberate colour choice and hold that tone as the plant matures.
• It climbs instead of sprawling. On a moss pole it builds a tidy vertical column rather than flopping over the pot rim.
• Humidity is a bonus, not a burden. It handles the muggy end of an Australian summer without sulking.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in the country. Two to three metres back from a bright window, and once inside your local climate stops mattering.

Pots and containers. Start it in a 250mm to 300mm pot with a moss pole in place, so the aerial roots grip from the start. Step it up a size every second year.

Warm gardens. Outdoors in filtered shade in the tropics and subtropics, on a tree trunk or shaded post.

Growing Painted Lady Philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light. Deep shade dulls the variegation and stretches the stems; direct midday sun scorches the pale sections of leaf. Outdoors it is limited to tropical and subtropical gardens, since even a light frost damages the growing tip. In cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, keep it inside.

Soil. A chunky, free draining aroid mix: potting mix opened up with orchid bark and perlite. Straight potting mix holds too much water and invites rot.

Water and feed. Water once the top 30mm to 40mm of mix has dried, then let the pot drain fully rather than standing in a saucer. A balanced liquid fertiliser every three to four weeks from spring to early autumn, and nothing over winter.

Pruning. Cut above a node to control height or encourage branching. Those cuttings strike readily in water or damp mix.

What to expect when it arrives

Two sizes, both grower packs: 125mm pots in packs of ten, and more established 180mm pots in packs of six. The 125mm plants are young, three or four leaves on a short stem; the 180mm plants can go straight into a decorative pot with a pole.

Plants travel boxed and upright. Expect a couple of tired leaves after transit and a quiet fortnight while the roots settle, then a new leaf every four to six weeks through the warm months. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Why variegated plants lose their markings.
• How to keep your indoor plants alive.
• Browse the wider indoor plant range.
• See more variegated foliage plants.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Like other philodendrons the leaves and stems contain calcium oxalate crystals, which cause mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting if chewed. Keep it up on a shelf in a home with pets.

Does it really need a moss pole?

It grows without one, but the leaves stay small and the stem trails. Aerial roots gripping a damp pole support much larger leaves, so the pole is the difference between a modest plant and a 1.5m column, about three years away.

Why are my new leaves coming out plain green?

Almost always light. Move it closer to a bright window, out of direct sun, and the next few leaves should return to the marbled pattern.