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Epipremnum aureum

Previously known as:

  • Scindapsus aureus
Phonetic Spelling
ep-ih-PREM-num AW-ree-um
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Pothos is a low-maintenance, perennial, broadleaf evergreen houseplant in the Araceae (arum) family and desired for its glossy, green or variegated leaves on cascading stems. It is native to the Society Islands. It grows only 6 to 8 feet as a horizontal groundcover, but the trailing and climbing vines can grow as long as 40 feet. This feature makes it well-suited for hanging baskets. As a container plant, it generally retains its juvenile leaf shape.

Pothos is very easy to grow. It prefers bright, indirect light but is even able to survive for long periods in low light. Mist the leaves regularly to keep humidity levels up and let the well-drained potting medium dry out between waterings. Fertilize every other month except when the plant is dormant in the winter. Wipe down the leaves every so often with a soft rag to remove any collected dust. Over time leaves will yellow and fall off, concentrating most of the leaves at the end of the stems. Prune stems back to maintain a bushy habit. Vines easily root in water. They climb by brown adhesive aerial roots. If given a support on which to climb and adequate light, the plant will begin to produce large, mature leaves.

It is distinguished from Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum by the absence of conspicuous free stipules on new growth and by the grooved petioles. 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Indoor vine with glossy, heart-shaped leaves variegated with yellow

  • No free stipules on new growth

  • Petioles are grooved

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Root rot can occur with overwatering.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Flower Bonanza Garden Container Gardens
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Golden Pothos'
    Yellow variegated leaves
  • 'Jade'
    Solid dark green leaves, great in low light
  • 'Lime'
    Yellow-green leaves
  • 'Marble Queen'
    Leaves and stems marbled with white
  • 'Neon'
    All yellow leaves
  • 'Tricolor'
    Leaves variegated with white, stems off white
'Golden Pothos', 'Jade', 'Lime', 'Marble Queen', 'Neon', 'Tricolor'
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#houseplant#easy to grow#white leaves#bright green#shade garden#showy leaves#interiorscape#yellow leaves#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#hanging baskets#gold leaves#deer resistant#spadix#glossy leaves#variegated#fantz#vertical spaces#green leaves#problem for cats#ebh#ebh-h#problem for dogs#problem for horses#heavy shade tolerant#container plant#heart-shaped leaves#hsc#hsc-f#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Golden Pothos'
    Yellow variegated leaves
  • 'Jade'
    Solid dark green leaves, great in low light
  • 'Lime'
    Yellow-green leaves
  • 'Marble Queen'
    Leaves and stems marbled with white
  • 'Neon'
    All yellow leaves
  • 'Tricolor'
    Leaves variegated with white, stems off white
'Golden Pothos', 'Jade', 'Lime', 'Marble Queen', 'Neon', 'Tricolor'
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#houseplant#easy to grow#white leaves#bright green#shade garden#showy leaves#interiorscape#yellow leaves#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#hanging baskets#gold leaves#deer resistant#spadix#glossy leaves#variegated#fantz#vertical spaces#green leaves#problem for cats#ebh#ebh-h#problem for dogs#problem for horses#heavy shade tolerant#container plant#heart-shaped leaves#hsc#hsc-f#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Epipremnum
    Species:
    aureum
    Family:
    Araceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Society Islands
    Climbing Method:
    Scrambler
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 13 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Houseplant
    Poisonous
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Creeping
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    Red-orange when ripe. Houseplants rarely if ever produce fruits.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spadix
    Flower Description:
    Rarely flowers in a spadix surrounded by a spathe. Spadix shorter than spathe, stout; spathe boat-shaped, not forming tube, yellow to green or purple.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Variegated
    White
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Deltoid
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves heart-shaped to elliptic-ovate, glossy medium green variegated with paler green underside. Veins may be reddish. Alternate, simple, sheathing, cordate, acuminate, cordate base, entire, coriaceous, glossy, green or green variegated yellow, cream to white, 3-4 in long. Petioles slender, shorter than leaf blade, and grooved to clasp the stem; stipule fused to petiole, free edges whitish, turning brownish, drying & dropping.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Variegated
    White
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems green and striped with white or yellow. Slender, with adventitious roots.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Hanging Baskets
    Houseplants
    Vertical Spaces
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing, skin irritation, diarrhea
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Calcium oxalate crystals
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems