Epipremnum pinnatum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Monstera pinnata
- Philodendron pinnatum
- Pothos pinnatus
- Rhaphidophora pinnata
- Phonetic Spelling
- eh-pee-PREM-num pin-NAY-tum
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Epipremnum pinnatum or Dragon-Tail Plant is a climbing, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the arum family (Araceae). It is native to a wide area from India, Southeast Asia, and southern China to the Philippines, New Guinea, and Australia. It climbs the trunks of rainforest trees, sometimes losing contact with the ground and becoming completely epiphytic. It may also be found climbing on granite and limestone in mountain forests. The species epithet is Latin for pinnate and refers to the way the leaf is divided into segments, like the pinnae of a feather.
This species has very sturdy vines that can reach 20 to 65 feet long in its native habitat. Indoor plants can reach about 8 to 10 feet in length. Its juvenile leaves are elliptical or arrow-shaped with entire margins. As the leaves mature, they become smooth, shiny, thick, ovate, and the margins become deeply incised. The leaves may measure from 12 to 20 inches long. Its blooms consist of a creamy-white to yellow-greenish spadix, and a canoe-shaped spathe. The fruits ripen as red berries with a very sticky pulp.
This plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight, warm temperatures, and moderate humidity. Avoid exposing the plant to drafts or cold air. The soil should be moist, well-drained, and rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic pH. The vine will also need support for its long and trailing stems, and you may wish to consider using a wooden stake, bamboo stake, or a sphagnum moss pole. Prune the foliage in the spring or early summer to maintain the plant's size and shape. Repotting may be required about every 2 to 3 years. Propagate with stem cuttings.
The cultivars are easy to grow and low maintenance houseplants. 'Cebu Blue' is a popular houseplant and has blue-green leaves that typically remain in the juvenile form of this species. If allowed to grow on a stake or moss pole, the leaves mature and become fenestrated like the species. These plants are perfect for hanging baskets or vertical spaces to accommodate their creeping and climbing stems. This plant is toxic if ingested. Exercise caution in the presence of children and pets.
In the recent past, Epipremnum aureum was treated as a cultivar of Epipremnum pinnatum and given the name E. pinnatum ‘Aureum’. After further study, botanists determined that the two have distinctively different vegetative features and should be recognized as separate species. Plants formerly called E. pinnatum 'Aureum' are now correctly called E. aureum.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant is resistant to most serious plant diseases. Monitor for mealybugs, scale, thrips and spider mites. Overwatering will cause fungal and bacterial diseases which can lead to root rot.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albo-Variegata'
large, serrated, dark green leaves with creamy white variegation, slower growing - "Baltic Blue"
deep blue-green leaves with fenestrations - 'Cebu Blue'
trailing 5 to 6 feet, small, narrow, lance-shaped blue-green leaves - 'Marble King'
creamy white, small, ovate leaves with spots of green - 'Skeleton Key'
large dark green leaves with narrow pointed tip similar to a key
- 'Albo-Variegata'
- 'Albo-Variegata', "Baltic Blue", 'Cebu Blue', 'Marble King', 'Skeleton Key'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Albo-Variegata'
large, serrated, dark green leaves with creamy white variegation, slower growing - "Baltic Blue"
deep blue-green leaves with fenestrations - 'Cebu Blue'
trailing 5 to 6 feet, small, narrow, lance-shaped blue-green leaves - 'Marble King'
creamy white, small, ovate leaves with spots of green - 'Skeleton Key'
large dark green leaves with narrow pointed tip similar to a key
- 'Albo-Variegata'
- 'Albo-Variegata', "Baltic Blue", 'Cebu Blue', 'Marble King', 'Skeleton Key'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Epipremnum
- Species:
- pinnatum
- Family:
- Araceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- In China, the plant has been used to treat injuries, abscesses, and rheumatic arthralgias. The sap also is used to treat snake bites. The plant is often sold in Singapore for medicinal purposes. The bark is used to treat wounds, headaches, and muscular pains. It has also been found to have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and Subtropical Asia to Pacific
- Distribution:
- Native: Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Jawa, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Samoa, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Introduced: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Puerto Rico and Windward Islands.
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Epiphyte
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a fleshy, red berry when ripe. The seeds are brown and reniform in shape.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Description:
- The flowers consists of a spathe and spadix. The spathe is green on the exterior and creamy white on the interior and canoe-shaped. The spadix is initially white and matures to a creamy grayish-green and the becomes dark yellowish-green. The plant is monoecious, and the spadix holds the male and female flowers.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The young leaves are elliptical to arrow-shaped. As the plant matures and gains sufficient height, the mature leaves becomes thick, leathery, ovate and pinnatifid. They may have white dots and pinholes at the mid-rib, and there are fenestrations (openings or windows) in the leaf blade. The leaves are green, smooth, glossy, thick, and leathery. The leaves can measure 12 to 20 inches long.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are shiny and green. The internodes are separated by prominent leaf scars.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Vertical Spaces
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- If ingested, this plant is toxic to cats, dogs, and humans. Symptoms include mouth and throat irritation, drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and swallowing.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Stems