Comparing Philodendron 'Orange Marmalade', 'Calkin's Gold', and 'Painted Lady'
- Foliage Factory
- Aug 30, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 10
If you’ve ever tried to identify a philodendron with yellow-green leaves, a blush of orange, or those unmistakable pink stems, you might have ended up debating between Philodendron ‘Orange Marmalade’, ‘Calkins Gold’, and ‘Painted Lady’
At first glance, they can look like siblings — all three are vibrant, variegated hybrids with tropical flair. But once you know where to look, they’re surprisingly easy to tell apart.
In this guide, we’ll put them side-by-side:
By the end, you’ll know exactly which is which — and maybe which belongs on your next plant order.
Botanical Background & Parentage
Reported & Suspected Origins
Cultivar | Reported Parentage | Suspected Species Lineage | Notes on Certainty |
Philodendron ‘Orange Marmalade’ | Widely reported by growers as a cross between Philodendron ‘Prince of Orange’ × Philodendron ‘Painted Lady’. | Likely inherits P. erubescens genetics through ‘Painted Lady’. | No official cultivar registration found; parentage is based on nursery/grower reports. |
Philodendron ‘Calkins Gold’ | Unknown; many suspect it’s a variegated sport of Philodendron domesticum Kunth. | Self-heading juvenile habit and narrow leaves match P. domesticum types. | The “sport” theory is speculative, based on visual similarities. |
Philodendron ‘Painted Lady’ | Believed to be Philodendron erubescens ‘Burgundy’ × P. erubescens ‘Emerald Queen’. | Strong climbing habit and petiole colour consistent with P. erubescens heritage. | Reported in hobbyist sources; no breeder’s record located. |
💡 Why it matters:
Knowing a plant’s likely lineage helps explain its growth form, colour traits, and care needs. P. erubescens hybrids tend to climb vigorously with colourful petioles, while P. domesticum types are often self-supporting in their early years with longer, narrower leaves.
2. Foliage Colour & Variegation
Juvenile stage: New leaves open in intense neon orange, often with copper or bronze tones. This flush is temporary — it’s a natural phase, not a sign of fading variegation.
Mature stage: Shifts to marbled gold, lime-green, and deep green. Variegation patterns are irregular, with some leaves showing all four tones at once (“quad-colour” effect).
Pattern type: Irregular marbling, sometimes combined with soft mottling.
Variegation stability: Stable in typical indoor light; no reports of complete reversion.
Light influence: Brighter indirect light deepens contrast but will not produce more variegation.
💡 Why it matters: The orange flush is your easiest early clue — no other common philodendron keeps that intense orange in juvenile leaves.
Juvenile stage: New leaves emerge bright yellow-green, sometimes with faint lighter streaks. No orange or red pigments.
Mature stage: Becomes mottled green and yellow, with colour less contrasted than in ‘Orange Marmalade’.
Pattern type: Splashed and mottled; tends toward a consistent, softer look.
Variegation stability: Holds yellow tones reliably; low light may dull them toward pale green.
Light influence: Best colour in medium-bright indirect light.
💡 Why it matters:
The complete lack of warm/orange pigments in any growth stage is a quick giveaway compared to the other two.
Juvenile stage: Fresh leaves are bright yellow-green with fine chartreuse speckling.
Mature stage: Speckling softens; leaf base turns light green with darker green flecks, maintaining a “painted” appearance.
Pattern type: Speckled to lightly mottled, often with brushstroke-like markings.
Variegation stability: Usually consistent; seasonal shifts may alter intensity slightly.
Light influence: Brighter light sharpens speckle contrast but doesn’t change coverage.
💡 Why it matters: The pink-to-red petioles plus speckled yellow-green new leaves form a colour pairing unique to Painted Lady.
3. Leaf Shape & Structure
Shape: Lanceolate to spade-shaped — long and tapering, with a pointed tip. Some leaves have a slightly broader shoulder near the base.
Texture: Smooth, semi-glossy; holds colour saturation well as it hardens.
Juvenile vs. mature: Leaves elongate further as the plant climbs; mature blades are more proportioned and less curved at the tip.
Orientation: Emerge upright, often leaning or draping slightly under their own weight when larger.
💡 Why it matters:
That elongated, slightly broad base combined with the orange flush in young leaves is a strong ID cue.
Shape: Narrow lanceolate — noticeably slimmer than ‘Orange Marmalade’ and without the base flare seen in many P. erubescens hybrids.
Texture: Smooth and firm, with thicker tissue than Painted Lady.
Juvenile vs. mature: Keeps its narrow profile even as leaves grow impressively long (reports up to 90 cm in ideal greenhouse conditions).
Orientation: Upright and spear-like; rarely droops unless in low light or under-watered.
💡Why it matters:
If you see a narrow, upright yellow-green leaf on a plant with green petioles, you’re almost certainly looking at Calkins Gold.
Shape: Elongate heart-shaped (ovate-triangular) with a pointed tip; base is rounded or slightly lobed.
Texture: Smooth and thinner than the other two cultivars, giving it a lighter, softer drape.
Juvenile vs. mature: Leaf base becomes more defined; mature leaves may occasionally develop small splits in high light and humidity.
Orientation: Typically outward-facing or slightly drooping, following the climbing stem.
💡Why it matters:
Heart-shaped outline + pink petioles + speckled yellow-green = Painted Lady.
4. Petiole & Stem Characteristics
Philodendron ‘Orange Marmalade’
Petiole colour: Reddish-orange to pinkish, often echoing the warmth of the leaf midrib in juvenile leaves.
Midrib colour: Warm orange in young leaves, lightening with age.
Sheath: Persists briefly, then dries and detaches.
Internode spacing: Moderate — elongates when climbing, compact when regularly pruned.
Philodendron ‘Calkins Gold’
Petiole colour: Bright green with no red or orange pigments (key diagnostic trait).
Midrib colour: Slightly lighter than the rest of the blade.
Sheath: More persistent than in the other two cultivars, often hugging the stem for longer.
Internode spacing: Tight, creating a denser leaf arrangement in juvenile form.
Philodendron ‘Painted Lady’
Petiole colour: Bright pink to deep red; some gradient toward the leaf base.
Midrib colour: Pinkish when young, fading to light green in maturity.
Sheath: Deciduous and detaches early.
Internode spacing: Moderate to wide; contributes to its more open vine structure.
Why petiole colour matters: In side-by-side comparisons, petiole hue is often the fastest and most reliable way to tell these three apart.
5. Growth Habit & Size
Philodendron ‘Orange Marmalade’
Habit: Vigorous climber; with a moss pole or plank, it can cover vertical space quickly.
Juvenile phase: Compact and upright, transitioning early to climbing.
Mature size: Indoors typically 90–120 cm tall; leaves up to 30–40 cm long.
Growth rate: Fast under warm, bright, and humid conditions.
Philodendron ‘Calkins Gold’
Habit: Starts as a self-heading plant, later producing a climbing vine with support.
Juvenile phase: Bushy and upright — stays in this form longer than the other two.
Mature size: Around 1 m tall and 75 cm wide indoors; exceptional greenhouse leaves can reach 90 cm.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast, often focusing energy on producing fewer but larger leaves.
Philodendron ‘Painted Lady’
Habit: Climbing/scandent with a naturally open structure.
Juvenile phase: Starts as a rosette at soil level before vining upward.
Mature size: 1.5–1.8 m tall with support; leaves around 20–25 cm long.
Growth rate: Moderate; responds well to regular feeding and optimal humidity.
6. Care & Adaptability
Although their appearance varies, Philodendron ‘Orange Marmalade’, ‘Calkins Gold’, and ‘Painted Lady’ share core care needs. The main differences are in light response, growth space, and support preference.
Light
Ideal: Bright, indirect light (approx. 10,000–20,000 lux) keeps colours vivid.
Orange Marmalade & Painted Lady: Stronger indirect light makes contrasts pop but does not increase variegation coverage — these cultivars aren’t photoreactive.
Calkins Gold: Can handle slightly lower light, but yellow variegation looks best in medium-bright conditions. Extended low light dulls yellow to pale green.
Humidity & Temperature
Humidity: Aim for 60–80 % for best leaf size and colour. Lower is tolerated but may slow growth.
Temperature: Optimal range is 20–27 °C daytime, never below 15 °C at night. Avoid cold drafts and sudden drops.
Watering
Let the top 2–3 cm of substrate dry before watering again.
Overwatering in heavy soils is a common cause of root issues.
Best substrate: airy, free-draining mix of peat or coco coir, chunky perlite, and orchid bark. Adding horticultural charcoal can boost aeration.
Feeding
Balanced liquid fertiliser (e.g., 20-20-20) at half strength every 2–4 weeks in active growth.
No need to drastically alter feeding between “seasons” indoors.
Support
Orange Marmalade: Climbs fast; support increases leaf size and enhances display.
Painted Lady: Similar benefit from moss poles, planks, or trellises.
Calkins Gold: Can remain compact without a pole for a while, but will elongate leaves and climb if given support.
7. Practical Identification Guide
When you’re trying to ID these cultivars, check three key traits in order:
Trait | Orange Marmalade | Calkins Gold | Painted Lady |
Petiole Colour | Reddish-orange to pinkish | Bright green, no warm tones | Bright pink–red |
New Leaf Colour | Neon orange, copper, or bronze | Yellow-green without orange tones | Yellow-green with chartreuse speckles |
Leaf Posture & Shape | Upright to slightly draping; “flame-like” colour change | Upright, narrow spear-like | Outward or drooping; elongate heart shape |
💡Tip: Look at multiple leaves — stress or low light can temporarily alter colour or posture.
8. Possible Look-Alikes & How to Tell Them Apart
‘Prince of Orange’
All-orange juvenile leaves turning green. No mottled variegation. Petioles greenish-orange, not red-orange.
Variegated Philodendron domesticum
Similar leaf shape to Calkins Gold but often broader with less consistent variegation but larger coloured variegation patches.
Philodendron erubescens hybrids
Can mimic Painted Lady’s form but usually lack the combination of bright yellow-green juvenile leaves and pink-red petioles.
9. Additional Notes
Variegation Stability:
All three cultivars generally hold their patterns well in stable indoor light.
Orange Marmalade’s orange flush is always temporary — it naturally fades to yellow-green as the leaf matures.
Calkins Gold keeps yellow tones reliably, though extended low light can soften them.
Painted Lady maintains its speckled look year-round, with only slight seasonal variation in contrast.
Space & Display:
Orange Marmalade and Painted Lady will eventually need a vertical support for best form and leaf size.
Calkins Gold stays bushy longer, but given a pole, it can produce impressively long leaves.
Together, they create a striking contrast in a single display — fiery orange flush, pure yellow-green mottling, and pink-stemmed speckling.
Market Availability:
Painted Lady is widely available and often the most affordable.
Orange Marmalade appears under several trade names (including Prismacolor™ ‘Orange You Gorgeous’, 'Quadcolor') — moderately available from specialty growers.
Calkins Gold is the rarest and sometimes mislabeled; verify with petiole colour before purchase. Entered tc some time ago, but was not produced in mass-quantities.
10. Summary Table – Quick Reference
Feature | Orange Marmalade | Calkins Gold | Painted Lady |
Juvenile Leaf Colour | Neon orange to copper, sometimes with bronze flush | Bright yellow-green, no orange pigment | Yellow-green with chartreuse speckles |
Mature Leaf Colour | Marbled gold, lime-green, and deep green | Mottled green and yellow | Light green with darker mottling |
Petiole Colour | Reddish-orange to pinkish | Bright green | Bright pink to red |
Leaf Shape | Lanceolate to spade-shaped | Narrow lanceolate | Elongate heart-shaped |
Leaf Orientation | Upright to slight drape | Upright, spear-like | Outward or drooping |
Internode Spacing | Moderate | Tight | Moderate to wide |
Habit | Vigorous climber | Self-heading to climber | Climber |
Max Leaf Size | 30–40 cm | Up to 90 cm (ideal conditions) | 20–25 cm |
Growth Speed | Fast | Moderate–fast | Moderate |
11. Final Takeaways
‘Orange Marmalade’, ‘Calkins Gold’, and ‘Painted Lady’ are distinct cultivars that reward close observation. Petiole colour, the hue of new leaves, and leaf shape remain the most reliable traits for identification.
Because their care requirements are almost identical, they can be grown side-by-side without complication. With consistent light, balanced watering, and appropriate support, each will display its characteristic foliage pattern and growth style year-round.
Understanding these differences means you can label them accurately, choose plants that fit your space, and maintain their traits over time.
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