If you are looking for a houseplant that adds a touch of warmth to your interiors, you should consider either Philodendron orange marmalade or Painted Lady. You can think of adding both of them to your collection.
However, many fellow growers need help distinguishing between them due to their similar leaf colors.
However, looking at both plants in-depth can help spot the differences. If you want some insight on the Philodendron orange marmalade and Painted lady, keep reading for reliable info on the differences.
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What is Philodendron Orange Marmalade?
This variety of philodendrons comes originally from the South American tropical forests. This plant is known for its shiny, glossy leaves reflecting a deep green shade.
But the real reason why growers eagerly look for this plant is the integration of diverse colors with this deep green. You can find leaves with streaks of shiny orange or pale yellow.
The botanical name of this plant is the Philodendron orange hybrid. So, as its name suggests, it is a hybrid plant, but the botanical parents are unknown.
The stunningly beautiful plant foliage and its rare availability could explain why its price goes beyond $140.
Philodendron Orange marmalade is not difficult to handle as it requires minimal care. Just give it properly draining soil and bright natural light without direct exposure. All this can make your colorful plants very happy.
What is the Philodendron Painted Lady?
Philodendron painted lady is a preferred choice by plant growers for many good reasons. For instance, it is a colorful member of the philodendron group. Its leaves feature a yellowish-green or mottled green shade. Additionally, this plant has large leaves that have an oblong shape.
One more reason for the plant’s popularity is its slow growth rate. So, it won’t get big in a few months. It can take your painted lady a couple of years to fully mature. The plant grows best in the form of a shrub.
It is also a tropical tree climber created from two philodendron parents. The parents of this lovely hybrid are two varieties of Philodendron erubescens. The parents are the emerald queen and burgundy philodendron .
Differences between Philodendron Orange Marmalade and Painted Lady?
Philodendron orange marmalade and Philodendron painted lady come from the well-known arum family and philodendron genus. Both are hybrids and toxic, despite their beautiful foliage. But they also reflect various differences. This includes foliage color, stalk colors, stems, and many other distinctive features.
1. Leaf size
Looking at both plants’ leaves can help you decide which one. The leaves of Philodendron orange marmalade are pretty lengthy and oval. The leaves of Philodendron painted lady are way shorter and tend to be a bit round.
2. Stalks color
The color of the petioles is an important feature of philodendron orange marmalade and painted lady. Both plants have different leaf stalks. The stalks of the philodendron-painted lady are only pink or slightly reddish. The painted lady stalks, on the other hand, are only moderately light green.
3. Leaf color
As a juvenile plant, the philodendron orange marmalade features a shiny orange color. But this won’t last long as this color changes into a lemon-lime color during maturity. However, the young painted lady leaves reflect a yellowish-green shade. As the leaves age, they develop a darker mottled shade of green.
4. Variegation
Another distinguishing feature of both plants is their variegated seeds. The deep green shade of mature leaves may be confusing, but the variegated colors are convincing.
The green leaves of the orange marmalade plant typically have deep yellow or bright orange variegation. The leaves of Painted Lady have a marbled pattern of variegation. Their variegation includes cream or bright yellow spots.
5. Growing style
Another obvious difference between these similar plants is their growing habits. The painted lady plant is a semi-vine plant. So, it has a habit of growing upright and spreading outwards. So, it looks like a shrub or a small tree while growing and developing.
Philodendron Orange marmalade, on the other hand, is a natural climber. So, it has aerial roots, and the plant latches onto supportive poles or trellises to grow and spread.
6. Growing rate
Like opposing growth patterns, philodendron orange marmalade and painted lady have different growing speeds. For instance, the painted lady grows very slowly.
The Philodendron orange marmalade is a fast-growing variety that imitates almost all its fellow climbers.
7. Stem features
As we mentioned earlier, the Philodendron painted lady is a self-heading or a shrub-like growing plant. This means it has a thick, fleshy pink stem supporting the upright spreading plant.
The orange marmalade plant climbs naturally. So, it has a slimmer stem, producing its aerial tree-hugging roots.
8. Growth nods separation
In both plants, growth nodes develop later into leaves or flowers. The distance between growth nodes in the painted lady plant is larger. On the other hand, the philodendron orange marmalade has tighter spaces between its nodes.
9. Light needs
The light needs of both plants are the same. They require bright sunlight without being directly exposed to it. However, the painted lady can adapt to lower light without dying.
This is not an option for the orange marmalade philodendron, as its leaves will lose their distinctive orange shade.
Philodendron Orange Marmalade vs Painted Lady: are they the same?
No, Philodendron orange marmalade is not the same as a painted lady. They are both hybrids and from the Araceae family. Also, they are not safe to ingest or touch, especially for kids and pets. But other than these similarities, these plants are different.
At first glance, you will notice a visible difference in the leaf sizes, as the philodendron orange marmalade has larger and more oblong leaves. The color of plant petioles and leaves is also variable.
The color of the variegation spots in both plants is also different, as the orange marmalade plant features bright orange variegations. The painted lady has marbled leaves with yellow variegations.
Both plants grow differently and at various rates. The stems of both plants have different colors and shapes. Despite sharing similar growing conditions, the philodendron orange marmalade tends to be more demanding in terms of lighting. It won’t keep its colorful foliage when the room has poor natural light.
