Cultivar guide · Philodendron erubescens
Pink Princess Philodendron
Dark green to nearly black arrow-shaped leaves with irregular bubblegum-pink variegation. Pink sectors range from tiny speckles to entire half-leaves. Variegation is unstable and unpredictable — some leaves emerge fully pink, others fully green.
Family
Araceae
Classification
cultivar
Mature size
3–4 ft on a moss pole indoors; leaves 6–9 inches at maturity
Pet safety
toxic to cats and dogs
Care at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect light is required — pink sections have no chlorophyll. Too little light reverts new growth to all-green; too much direct sun bleaches the pink to white.
- Water
- Water when top 1–2 inches of soil are dry; do not let it sit in wet soil
- Humidity
- 50–60%
- Temperature
- 65–80°F (18–27°C); no cold drafts
How to tell it apart from look-alikes
Confused with "Pink Congo Philodendron," which has uniform pink leaves that always revert to green within a few months because the coloration is chemically induced, not genetic. PPP variegation is genetic and stable (though unpredictable per leaf).
Pet safety: Pink Princess Philodendron is toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA.
Botanical reference: Missouri Botanical Garden — Philodendron erubescens
For full care of the parent species, see the Philodendron care guide.