Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess Marble'

Cultivar of nursery origin; a heavily marbled selection of Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess' (parent species native to Colombia)

First described by K.Koch & Augustin (parent species).

Dark green to near-black leaves with broad marbled pink-and-green sectors; pattern varies markedly leaf to leaf.

Climbing cultivar of P. erubescens; larger leaves with a moss pole and bright light.

Genus from Greek 'philo' (love) + 'dendron' (tree), referring to many species' habit of climbing trees. 'Pink Princess Marble' is a horticultural cultivar name; 'erubescens' means 'blushing'.

Pink Princess Marble' is a heavily variegated selection of Philodendron erubescens 'Pink Princess' (parent species native to Colombia), distinguished by large, marbled pink-and-green sectors rather than discrete spots. As with all Pink Princess plants the pink is a chimeric, unstable mutation: too much pink leaves a weak unsustainable leaf, too little light causes reversion. Highly marbled plants are prized but harder to keep balanced.

Needs consistent bright indirect light to hold the marbling without reverting. A moss pole, airy well-draining mix, and good humidity suit it. Prune above a node with good pink-and-green balance to encourage variegated (not all-pink or all-green) growth.

• Reversion to green or unsustainable all-pink leaves; root rot from overwatering; scorched pink sectors in direct sun; spider mites in dry air.

• Marble' refers to broad swirled pink-and-green sectors rather than the scattered spots of standard Pink Princess.
• Balancing the variegation is an art — strategic pruning keeps plants from going all-green or all-pink.
• Like all Pink Princess plants, the pink is a chimeric mutation and every leaf is unique.