How to Tell Apart Philodendron Verrucosum From Philodendron Gloriosum

Are you new to rare plants and having a bit of a hard time identifying between different species while on your own plant-collecting journey? Don’t despair! With time, practice and exposure, you will be able to differentiate between many plants like a pro! In this article, you will learn how to differentiate Philodendron verrucosum from Philodendron gloriosum.

Plant Identification

So what physical characteristics should you look for when identifying plants? Here are some basic traits that you should observe and make note of:

• Leaf shape
• Color and markings
• Venation
• Petiole features
• Texture
• Growth pattern.

We’re going to keep it simple and avoid the scientific, overly-technical jargon. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of botanical morphology and identification, I would recommend doing your own research or taking botany classes.

Philodendron gloriosum

Philodendron gloriosum is a must-have in any indoor plant collection. The leaves are broad (almost as wide as they are long) and heart-shaped (cordate), with prominent white veins. Sometimes the veins can be tinted with pink, and the leaf margins (edges) can be pink too. The leaves have a soft, suede-like texture, and are usually dark emerald green, although this can vary.

New leaves emerge as a bright chartreuse green and will turn dark green after they harden off and mature. P. gloriosum grows in a crawling manner, creeping along the ground and setting roots from its nodes as it spreads horizontally.

The petioles of Philodendron gloriosum are round and smooth, usually with striations. They also tend to get quite long and lanky.

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Check out these additional articles on Philodendrons:

• The Top 12 Philodendrons You Must Have
• The Botanical Chick’s Aroid Potting Mix
• An In-Depth Guide to Philodendron Care

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Philodendron verrucosum

Philodendron verrucosum is another very popular rare plant that is found all over social media. The visual differences between P. verrucosum and P. gloriosum are quite clear just from the photos alone. Regardless, here is a run-down of P. verrucosum‘s physical characteristics.

P. verrucosum has dark green, heart-shaped leaves similar to P. gloriosum. However, they tend to be narrower, with a dark red reverse. Unlike the white veins of P. gloriosum, the color of the veins for P. verrucosum varies from lime green to pale green, or gold.

The red undersides gives P. verrucosum their striking appearance and the color contrast can really make the veins pop. Because of their vivid colors, it is one of the most sought-after plant species today.

One of the most distinctive features of P. verrucosum are the round, hairy petioles. Its fuzziness is intriguing to some collectors but other collectors can’t stand it. Personally, I find it interesting, but my main focus is on the gorgeous foliage.

Some Exceptions

Please note, there are a few other Philodendrons in existence with hairy petioles that are not necessarily P. verrucosum. A few examples are Philodendron squamiferum or Philodendron fibrosum. However, these other Philodendrons are not as popular just yet, and they are also quite different in appearance from P. verrucosum. As a result, it would be hard to mix up their identifications.

P. verrucosum’s leaves are velvety with a lovely sheen to them. Unlike P. gloriosum which crawls over the ground, P. verrucosum is a climber and will put out bigger and bigger leaves the higher it goes. It is happiest scrambling up a moss pole or some other vertical structure.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I hope this short, concise identification guide helps you determine the differences between Philodendron verrucosum from Philodendron gloriosum in your own plant collecting journey. Both beautiful plants have distinctive features which will make identification easy. As long as you remember that P. verrucosum has red undersides and fuzzy petioles, you’ll probably be able to recognize it the majority of the time in the future.

Or, if all this plant identification stuff sounds too hard, don’t worry, there is another solution. With the advancement of technology, you can use a smartphone app to identify plants. Of course, it’s always impressive being able to identify plants on your own without the help of technology. Rattle off some scientific names and your friends and family members will be amazed!