Prince of Orange Philodendron

Prince of Orange Philodendron (Philodendron 'Prince of Orange') is grown for the colour of its new growth. Each leaf unfurls a bright coppery orange, softens to amber, then settles to deep green, so a healthy plant carries three shades at once. It forms a self supporting clump about 80cm tall and 80cm wide rather than a climbing vine, which makes it an easy indoor plant for a floor pot or a wide bench.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The orange to amber to green sequence runs all year in good light, so the plant never has an off season.
• It stays in bounds. A clumping habit around 80cm each way means no trailing stems to train and no support pole to hide.
• Forgiving indoors. Bright indirect light and a fortnightly check on the mix is genuinely all it asks.
• Happy in humidity. Bathrooms, kitchens and humid subtropical verandahs suit it, where drier loving plants sulk.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is where most will live, and where climate stops mattering. Set it near a window with filtered light, out of direct sun, anywhere in the country.

Pots and containers. A pot 300mm to 400mm wide suits a mature clump. Free draining mix and a drainage hole matter more than pot material.

Balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it needs a frost free position in a tropical or subtropical garden, in shade or dappled light. In cooler southern gardens treat it as an indoor plant that holidays outside in summer.

Growing Prince of Orange Philodendron in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the strongest orange on new leaves; in low light the colour washes out and the plant stretches. It is frost tender, so outdoor planting is limited to tropical and subtropical zones, and anything below about 10 degrees will damage the foliage.

Soil. A chunky aroid or premium indoor mix opened up with bark or perlite. Aroid roots need air as much as water, and a heavy mix that stays sodden is the usual cause of collapse.

Water and feed. Water when the top third of the mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. Tip the saucer out afterwards. Feed a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly through the warm months only.

Grooming. No real pruning. Cut spent leaves off at the base, wipe the foliage occasionally, and repot every two to three years when roots fill the pot.

What to expect when it arrives

This philodendron is supplied in packs: ten plants in 125mm pots, or six in 180mm pots. Both are established plants rather than cuttings, and the pack sizes suit landscapers, stylists and anyone filling several rooms at once. The 180mm plants are the fuller of the two and can go straight into a decorative pot.

A bent or bruised leaf after transit is cosmetic, and the plant grows out of it. Give it a week in bright indirect light before the first water. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full philodendron care guide.
• Avoid the usual mistakes with keeping indoor plants alive.
• Browse the wider indoor plant range.
• Pair it with a pot that drains properly.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. Like all philodendrons the sap contains calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mouth and stomach if chewed and can irritate skin when you cut a stem. Keep it out of reach of pets and children.

Why are the new leaves coming through green?

Not enough light. The orange pigment develops in bright indirect conditions, so move the plant closer to a window, without putting it in direct sun.

Can I grow it outside in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Not permanently. It is frost tender and wants a tropical or subtropical position outdoors, so in southern gardens keep it indoors and move it to a shaded spot over summer.