Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' (Philodendron 'Prince of Orange')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Prince of Orange Philodendron, Orange Prince Philodendron, Philodendron Prince of Orange.

More about philodendron 'prince of orange'

About Philodendron 'Prince of Orange'

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' · also called Prince of Orange Philodendron, Orange Prince Philodendron · houseplant

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is a self-heading hybrid aroid prized for new leaves that emerge bright orange and age through copper to green. Give it bright indirect light, water when the top inch dries, and warmth above 13C. It is toxic to cats and dogs (insoluble calcium oxalates), so keep it out of reach.

Cold limit: USDA 9-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) (15-29C)

What philodendron 'prince of orange''s hardiness rating actually means

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is half-hardy (RHS H2). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Its RHS rating of H2 means: Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot. On the US scale that maps to USDA 9-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 1 to 5 °C — tolerates cold but no real frost. Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

Concretely, for philodendron 'prince of orange' as it gets too cold:

Down to roughly about 1 to 5 °C it copes, especially if dry and sheltered.
A sustained hard frost collapses the top growth; whether it returns depends on whether the roots, crown or tubers froze.
Wet cold is far more lethal than dry cold for this plant — soggy, frozen soil is the usual killer.

Can philodendron 'prince of orange' go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 9-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) or a frost-free UK microclimate.
In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter.
A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when philodendron 'prince of orange' can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H2 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline philodendron 'prince of orange'

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost.
Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse.
Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones.
Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is philodendron 'prince of orange' cold hardy?

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is half-hardy (RHS H2). It survives a mild winter outdoors in a sheltered spot, but a hard frost kills it — so in colder zones it is lifted, potted, or grown as a tender plant. Borderline outdoors. In its mild end of USDA 9-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) (and sheltered UK gardens) philodendron 'prince of orange' can stay out; in colder areas it must be lifted, brought in, or treated as a frost-tender plant.

What is the minimum temperature philodendron 'prince of orange' can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 1 to 5 °C — tolerates cold but no real frost. Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' shrugs off cold nights but a real, sustained freeze will kill it.

What hardiness zone is philodendron 'prince of orange'?

Philodendron 'Prince of Orange' is rated USDA 9-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) and RHS H2 — Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot.

Can philodendron 'prince of orange' survive winter outside?

It can live outside year-round only in the mildest, most sheltered part of USDA 9-11 (grown as a houseplant elsewhere; not frost-hardy) or a frost-free UK microclimate. In colder zones, grow it in a pot you can move under cover, or lift its tubers/roots and store them frost-free over winter. A south-facing wall, free-draining soil and a dry winter position can push it a full zone hardier than the books suggest.

How do I protect philodendron 'prince of orange' from frost?

Mulch the crown or root zone deeply with bark, straw or leaf-mould before the first hard frost. Move container plants against a warm wall or into an unheated but frost-free porch or greenhouse. Fleece the top growth on the coldest nights, and keep it on the dry side — dry roots survive cold far better than wet ones. Lift dahlia-type tubers or tender crowns after the first light frost blackens the foliage and store them somewhere cool but frost-free.