Syngonium podophyllum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sin-GO-nee-um po-do-FIL-um
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The American evergreen is a tropical perennial shrub or vine in the Araceae family climbing to 6 feet. It is desired in interior settings for its low-maintenance, green or variegated, long-petioled leaves and bush-like habit with some cascading stems. Its blooms are rare in interiors.
The ideal location will include a warm setting with high humidity. Avoid locations with full sun, as direct sunlight will tend to burn or bleach the foliage. Typically a perennial, it can be grown as an annual for your containers or other bright but shady locations. Young plants will have a shrubby habit, but as the plant ages it will take on a vine like habit. If you wish to retain the arrowhead foliage, cut off the stems as they begin to develop. That will allow the plant to keep a more shrub-like habit. Repotting every few years and trimming the root system can keep the plant managable.
Its flowers are green to greenish white and form on a spike and are encompassed by a green-white sheathing bract called a spathe. Groups of flowers form in the leaf axils.
As the plant matures, it leaves change shape. Its juvenile form has ovate, heart shaped leaves up to 5.5 inches long. They may have a silvery variegation. The adult form has arrow shaped leaves. The leaves will eventually become pedate (having feet) and contain 5 to 11 leaflets. There are also lobed leaves representing a transition from juvenile to adult stage.
This plant is typically sold in its juvenile form. Its uses include use in a hanging basket, as a ground cover, climber, or as a small shrub.
Quick ID
- Juvenile leaf arrowhead-shaped, adult leaf lobed
- Leaves have long petioles, are subpeltate
- Bush-like habit with some climbing or trailing stems
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Bacterial leaf spot and soft rot can occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Syngonium
- Species:
- podophyllum
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South America to Mexico
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Buffer
- Screening
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Creeping
- Prostrate
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is an egg-shaped cluster of round berries.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is a spathe cluster, axillary, spadix shorter than the spathe. The spathes overlap to form a boat-shaped tube, green to yellow and white, sometimes marked with red or purple.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The juvenile leaves are alternate, simple, saggitate (arrow-shaped), acute to acuminate, and entire. They are dark green above, paler green beneath; intermediate leaves 3-lobed, median segments constricted at base, basal segment triangular. Adult leaves are pedatisect (divided), segments 3-11, confluent to free, median segment obovate to elliptic, acuminate, lowermost segment auriculate, dark green above and paler beneath. Petioles are long, green to reddish-green, subpeltate, sheathing at base.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stems are succulent, green, climbing, with adventitious roots.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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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
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Calcium oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems