Philodendron plants can give you anything you want in the houseplant category. They have lovely leaves that offer a variety of colors. Philodendrons are super easy to grow and maintain.
So, if you want a touch of red in your interiors, Philodendron Bloody Mary or Red Emerald are great suggestions for adding the desired red touch.
Philodendron Bloody Mary and red emerald can look almost alike to many growers. But they are not impossible to distinguish.
In this Philodendron Bloody Mary vs. Red Emerald comparison, we will discuss the basic features and notable differences. So, stay tuned for in-depth knowledge about these two exotic plants.
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What is Philodendron Bloody Mary?
Philodendron Bloody Mary is one of the most sought-after Philo varieties. It is a beloved ornamental houseplant with eye-catching foliage with green leaves as it matures.
However, the plant features plenty of burgundy leaves in the younger versions. In many versions of this plant, you will find green and deep red leaves side by side.
Another beautiful feature of this plant is its stems. They are also deep red, along with the petioles. The name “Bloody Mary” came from the presence of a deep red liquid inside the leaves.
The leaves of this plant do not grow in a single direction. They thrive in different, random directions.
This plant is native to the tropical parts of Brazil. It is a fast and large grower. Additionally, it is a natural climber. So, it will need an exterior trellis or any proper climbing totem pole.
You can notice that the mature leaves of this plant are pretty large. Also, they tend to droop as they grow. So, this should not be an alarming issue for you.
What is Philodendron Red Emerald?
This is another popular variety of the Philodendron genus. Collectors and growers like this plant due to the green and red colors on the same vine. This Philodendron has large green leaves growing on dark red stems.
This plant originally comes from Colombia but can be found in other tropical parts of South America, including Costa Rica.
It is a flowering plant that produces red blooms. The plant has leaves with the standard heart shape that is common in many philodendrons. It is a climbing plant that grows around 4 meters indoors.
However, if you leave it outdoors, it can easily outgrow this height. In the wild, this plant can reach about 20 meters. The undersides of this plant’s leaves remain bright red with noticeable reddish veins.
Caring for the Philodendron Red Emerald is not an issue. It shares similar growing conditions with the Philodendron “Bloody Mary” and many other tropical houseplants. So, moderate indirect light is the best lighting condition.
However, these plants can survive poorer lighting conditions. In this case, you might lose the beautiful deep red shade of the stems. Additionally, the leaves won’t reach their maximum size.
Differences between Philodendron Bloody Mary and Philodendron Red Emerald
These two philodendrons are often confused with each other. There is a strong presence of red color all over each plant.
Also, they have similar growth styles and conditions. But you can take an in-depth look at each plant to detect their differences easily.
1. Leaf shape
From a distance, the leaves of both plants can look identical. However, when you put the leaves of each plant side by side, you can notice a huge difference in their appearance.
The leaves of the Philodendron Emerald are more cordate. The Philodendron Bloody Mary is also somewhat heart-shaped but more elongated.
2. Stem colors
This might seem tricky to utilize in this Philodendron Bloody Mary vs. Red Emerald comparison. However, you can identify both plants by looking at their red stems.
The stems and petioles of the bloody mary have a darker red shade compared to those of the red emerald.
3. Leaf colors
A focused look at the leaves of both plants can indicate obvious differences in the colors. Both plants have green leaves, but the leaves of the Bloody Mary plant are not just green.
There are burgundy leaves as well. The younger leaves are always deep red. Red Emerald leaves, on the other hand, are always green.
4. Backsides colors
The leaves of both Philodendron Bloody Mary and Red Emerald have red undersides. However, the shades of red are different.
You can identify the Bloody Mary by its darker red or burgundy undersides. The undersides of the Red Emerald philodendron are lighter red.
5. Leaf size
Another defining sign for recognizing both plants is the mature leaf size. The leaves of the Red Emerald philodendron are larger than those of the Bloody Mary philodendron.
Mature leaves of the Philodendron Emerald reach an average length of 18 to 20 cm. Philodendron Bloody Mary leaves can grow up to 10 cm long.
6. Flowers
Various philodendrons can bloom during summer and spring, but this is only the case with some; this is the case with these two philodendrons. The Philodendron Red Emerald is a flowering philodendron that produces beautiful red flowers.
However, it will bloom slowly when grown indoors. On the other hand, the philodendron “Bloody Mary” won’t bloom at all.
7. Light needs
As tropical plants, they naturally love bright sunlight but without direct exposure. The Philodendron Bloody Mary is a more flexible vine regarding lighting conditions.
It can tolerate lower natural light, whereas the Red Emerald can’t.
8. Watering needs
Both plants do not like overwatering. They are not drought-tolerant either. However, their watering needs are slightly different. The Philodendron “Bloody Mary” likes to sit on damp soil.
So, it would help if you watered it more frequently during the summer. The Philodendron Red Emerald prefers a bit of dry soil. So, you should not water it while it is still moist.
Philodendron Bloody Mary vs Philodendron Red Emerald: Are they the same?
No, the Philodendron Bloody Mary and the Red Emerald are not the same plants. They both feature similar physical appearances. Also, they share the same family and genus.
However, they have more differences that make recognizing them easy. The Philodendron Red Emerald is mostly green, but the new leaves of the Bloody Mary are deep red.
Also, the undersides of each plant’s leaves have different shades of red. The Bloody Mary has darker red undersides, whereas the Red Emerald has bright ones. The Philodendron Bloody Mary’s leaves are elongated, whereas those of the Red Emerald are heart-shaped.
The Bloody Mary has burgundy stems, but those of the Red Emerald plant are light red. The red emerald is a flowering philodendron, whereas the Bloody Mary isn’t. The Philodendron Red Emerald has longer leaves that can double the Bloody Mary’s length.
As for their growing conditions, the Philodendron Bloody Mary can deal well with poorer light, unlike the Philodendron Red Emerald. Last but not least, the Bloody Mary plant can’t stand moisture in the soil, whereas the red emerald loves damp soil.
